L  I  B  R  i^  I^  Y 

OV      Till'. 

•  Theological   Seminary 

PRINCETON,   N.  J- 


Book        k/ '    ^ 


A     DONATION 


^^^^^^^^f---^^^ 


ilecrxbcb 


e>  rdX^uU 


.  M^rpUiAJ  — *^  V^ 


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^'V^^VVjWTJBIiBOTHAM. 


AN 

UI'STORICAl, 
GEOGRAPHICAL,  COMMERCIAL, 

PHILOSOPHICAL 

VIEW 

OF    THE 

UNITED  STATES  of  AMERICA, 

AND     OF     THE 

EUROPEAN  SETTLEMENTS 

IN* 

AMERICA  AND  TPiE  WEST-INDIES, 

BY 

V  - 

^  W-    WINTERBOTHAM. 


THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  EDITION.  WITH  ADDITIONS  AND 
CORRECTIONS. 


/ 

m  FOUR  VOLUMES. 
VOL.  IV. 


NEW-  YORK; 

Printed    bv    TIEBOUT    and    O'BRIEN 

^OK   JOHN  REID,  BooKSH..Ka  and  Sxaxi^x.k, 

No.   106,  Water.-Str£et. 


CONTENTS. 


VOL.     IV. 


TAG?. 


BISTORT  ef  the  Britijh  Settlements  in  America 

Upper  and  Lower  Canada 

Cape-Breton 

J^Ieiv-Britain 

No'^a-Scotia 

St.  John 
Jt^eivfoundland 

Qreenland  ^ 

Spanijh  Dominions  in  North-America  .         •  4 

JEaJi  andWeJi'Florida  -         •         •         *  ' 

Loui/iana 

Mexico,  or  NeiV'Spain  •         •         •         ' 

View  of  South-America 

Spanijh  Dominions  in  South-America 

Terra  Firma        -         •         •         '         '         '  ^^ 

Peru  .         •         •         *  ,         i6i 

Chili        ..••••      ^      ,67 

Paraguay,  or  La  Plata         .         *         *  c .      r 
Observations  on  the  Government,  Trade,  ^c,  oj 

South-America  •         •         *         '         ' 

Portuguese  Settlement  in  South-America 

Brafil  •         •         *         *         * 

French  Peffejfm^  in  South-America         ■        ■        -■- 

Cayenne       ••'.,'.  21c 

Dutch  Poffeffiom  in  Scuth-Amerua  -^      -^         ,^^ 

Surinam         •         •         '         *         *  ^         221 

Aboriginal  America       »         -         '         '         '  .^^ 

Amazonia  .         •         •         * 


I 

12 
16 

3S 
43 
44 
46 


117 
118 

ib. 

3^ 


171 


CONTENTS, 


Patagonia 

Weji-India  Jflands 

Britijh  We/Undies 

jfamaica 

Bar  badoes 

Si.  Chrijtopher^s 

Antigua 

Grenada 

DQ7ninica 

St.  Vincent 

Nevis 

Montferrat 

Barbuda 

Bermudas 

Spanifi  Wejl-Indies 

French  WeJl-Indies 

Dutch  WeJl-lndies 

Bamjh  Weft4ndies 

Hi/lory  of  American  ^adrupeds 

—- the  Birds  of  America 

Reptiks  of  America 

Treaties  between  America  and  Foreign  Nations 


Indi 


'o.ex. 


JPAGE 

ib. 

242 
248 

266 
271 

280 
282 
284 

297 

308 

325 

381 
402 
409 


HISTORY 


Britifh    Settlements    in    AmerlGa, 


.i^-<--<  ■<•■<.•<-«>■•  <-4«  ^  >J>..i^">->">">->-— -> 


SITUAtlON  AND  EXTENT. 

-l  HE  Britifti  dominion  in  America  extending  over  a  traft  o^ 
country  tailed,  for  the  purpbfe  of  diftinftion,  by  the  genera! 
name  of  Britifh  America,  comprehends  the  vaft  and  unknown 
Extent  of  Country,  bounded  fouth,  by  the  United  States  of  Ame- 
rica, and  the  Atlantic  ocean  ;  eaft,  by  the  fame  ocean  and  Davis's 
Straits,  which  divide  ii  from  Greenland  ;  extending  north  to  thd 
northern  limits  of  the  Hudfon*s  Bay  charter  :  and  weftward  to 
an  unknown  extent — lying  between  42^  30'  and  -y^  north  lati- 
tude •  dnd  between  56*^  and  165^  weft  long,  from  Greenwich  9 
and  between  25**  eaft  and  30''  weft  long,  frdm  Philadelphia. 

It  is  divided  into  foUr  pro"(''incc5j  viz.  i.  Upper  Canada  ; — . 
s.  Ltiwer  Canada,  to  which  is  annexed  New  Britain,  or  the 
iountry  lying  round  Hudfon's  Bay^  and  the  Iftand  of  Cape  Bre- 
ton ; — 3*  New  Brunfwick  ; — and  4.  Nova  Scotia,  to  which  is 
annexed  the  Ifland  of  St.  John's. — Betides  thefe  there  is  the 
Ifland  of  Newfoundland,  which  is  governed  by  the  admiral  for 
the  time  being,  and  two  lieutenant  governors,  who  refide  at 
Placentia  nnd  St,  John's. The  troops  ftationed  at  Newfound- 
land, however,  are  fubjeft  to  the  orders  of  the  Governor-general 
of  the  four  Britifti  provinces.— Of  each  of  thefe  provinces  our 
intention  is  to  enter  into  a  brief  defcription, 

Vol.  IV,  B 


3":  GE-N^ERAL    DESCRIPTION  OF 

r  R  O  Y  I  N  C  E  S 

O  F 

UPPER  AND  LOWER  CANADA, 

SITUATION,  EXTENT,  AND  BOUNDARIES. 

-  The  provinces  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada,  conflituted  by  act- 
of  pailiiiTient  in  .1^.9,1,  comprehend  the  territory  heretofore  calk-d 
Canada,  or  the  Province,  of  Quebec  ;  fituated  between  42^  30' 
an'l  50'^  north  latitude,  and  61'*  and  81°  we fl  longitude  froin. 
London:  or  14^  eaft,  and  6"  weft  from  Philadelphia.  Their 
length  is  about  fix  hundred  mlleSj  and  their  breadth  five  hundred 
andTifty. 

Thefe  provinces  are  bounded  on  the  north,  by  New  Britain  ; 
en  the  eafl;,  by  the  Gulph  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  part  of  the  Pro- 
\-ince  of  New  BrunTwicIc  ;  on  the  ibuth-eaft  and  fouth,  by  the 
diftrift  of  Maine,  New  Hampfliire,  Vermont,  NcW-York,  and 
the  lakes  :  the  wcilcrn  boundary  is  undefined.  The  Province  of 
Upper  Canada  is  the  fame  as  what  is  commonly  called  the  Upper 
Country.  It  lies  north  of  the  great  lakes,  betweeti  the  latitudes 
of  42*^  30 'and  50'',  and  is  feparated  from  New  York  bv  the 
river  St.  Lawrence,  here  called  the  Cataraqui,  and  the  Lnkcs 
Ontario  and  Erie. 

Lower  Canada  lies  on  both  fides  (he  river  St.  Lawrence,  be-« 
tween  61*'  and  71^  W.  Ion.  from  London;  and  45*^  and  52''' 
N.  lat.  and  is  bounded  fouth  by  New  Brunfwick,  Maine,  New 
Hampfliire,  Y'crmont,  and  New  York  ;  and  weft  by  Upper 
Canada. 

The  line  whicb  divides  Upper  from  Lower  Canada  commences 
at  a  -ftone  boundary,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  lake  St.  Francis, 
at  the  coVc.  weft  of  Poiiiti:  au  Bdudct,  in  the  limit  between  the 
townfhip  of  Lanqafler  and  the  Seigneurie  of  New  Longuevil, 
running  along  the  faid  limit  in  the  dlre&ion  of.  north  thirty-four 
dcffrccs  v;cft,  to  tlic  weflernmoft  angle  of  the  faid  lSei|;ri.eurie  of 
New  Longuevil ;  thenee  along  the  north-weftcrn  boundary  of  the 
Selgneuiie  of  Vahdrcuii,  running  north,  twenty-five  degrees  eal"^, 
uiitil  "li:  feilces  the  Ottavv'as  river  ;,toaf€end' the  faid  river  into 
the  lal;:?  Tdniircanning  •,  and  from ' the  Iread  of  the  faid  lake  by  a 
lino  di-a\Vn  due  north,  until  it  flrikes  the  boundary  line  of  Hud- 
fmrs  New  Britain.      Upper    Canada^  t<p  Inc^udp  all  the 

teiiitory  to  ir.e  wcflv/ard  and  fouthward  of  tlie  laid  line,  to    the 
uiriiOiL  "extent  of  the  country  known  by  the  name  of  Canada, 


UPPER  A  KD  L  0  JVE  R  CAN  AD  A.  ^ 

AIR  AND  CLIMATE. 
The  climate  is  not  very  different  from  that  of  the  New- 
England  States  •,  but  as  it  is  faliher  from  the  fea,  and  more  to 
the  northward  than  moft  of  them,  the  winters  are  more  levere. 
Winter  continues  with  fych  feverity  from  December  to  April, 
as  that  the  largeft  rivers  are  frozen  over,  and  the  fnow  lies 
commonly  from  four  to  fix  feet  deep  during  tlie  whole  of  that 
time.  But  the  air  is  fo  fevene  and  clear,  and  the  inhabitants  fo 
W'cU  defended  againft  the  cold,  that  this  leafon  is  neither  un- 
healthy nor  unpleafant.  The  fprings  open  luddenly,  and  vege- 
tadon  is  furprifmgly  rapid.  The  fummer  is  delightful,  except 
that  a  part  of  it  is  extremely  hot. 

HISTORY  OF  ITS  SETTLEM&T,  &c. 

Canada  was  undoubtedly  difcovered  by  Sebastian  Cabot,. 
the  famous  Italian  adventurer,  who  lailed  under  a  comuiiirion 
from  Henry  VII.  But  though  the  Englifii  monarch  did  not 
think  proper  to  make  any  ule  of  the  dilcovery,  the  French 
cjuickly  attempted  ;  we  have  an  account  of  their  fifhing  on  the 
banks  of  Newfoundland,  and  along  the  fea  coaft  of  Canada,  in 
the  beginning  of  the  fixteenth  century.  About  the  year  1596, 
one  Dcnys,  a  Frenchman,  drew  a  map  of  the,  gulph  of  St,, 
Lawrence  ;  and  two  years  after,  one  Aubortj  a  fliip-mader  of 
Dieppe,  carried  over  to  France  fome  of  the  natives  of  Canada. 
As  the  new  country,  however,  did  not  promii'e  the  fame  arruz- 
ing.  quantities  of  gold  and  filver  produced  by  Mexico  and 
Peru,  the  French  for  fome  years  nerlocled  the  difcovery.  Ac 
laft,  in  the  year  J523,  Francis  L  a  lenhble  and  enterprifing 
prince,  fent  four  fhips,  under  the  command  of 'Verazaiii,  a 
Florentine,  to  profecute  dilcoveries  in  that  country.  The  pJi- 
ticulars  of  this  man's  iirfl;  expedition  arc  not  known.  All 
we  can  learn  is,  that  he  returned  10  France,  and  next  year 
he  undertook  a  iccond.  As  he  approached,  tiae  coaft,  he  met 
with  a  violent  florm  ;  however,  he  ps^e  io  near  as  to  perceive 
the  natives  on  the  (bore,  making  friendly  hgns  to  him  to  land. 
This  being  found  impra£ticable,  by  realbn  of,  the  furf  upon 
the  coaft,  one  of  the  Tailors  threw  himlelf  into  tiie  fea  ;  but, 
endeavouring  to  fv^im  back  to  the  Ihip,  a  lurge  threw  him  orj. 
{bore  without  figns  of  life.  He  was,  howcvci',  treated  by  the 
natives  with  fuch  care  and  humariity,  that  he  recovered  his 
fttcnithj  an4  was  allowed  to  Iwim  back  to  the  fhip,  which 
immediately  returned  to  France.  This  is  all  we  know  of 
Ve.azani's  fecond  expedition.  He  undertook  a  third  but  was 
no  more  heard  of,,  and  it  was  thought  that  he  and  all  his  com- 
Tjany  perifiied  before  he  could  form  any  colony. 


t  f&tN'E^RA  L  D  £SCR  IPX  ION  6  F 

^^  ^534)  o"^  Jiques  Gartier,  of  St  Maloes,  fet  fail  under 
3  commiflion  from  the  French  king,  and  on  the  loth  of  May 
arrived  at  Cape  Bonavifta  in  Newfoundland.  He  had  with 
him  two  fmall  fhips  be  fides  the  one  in  which  he  failed.  He 
cruiffed  along  the  coafts  of  that  ifland,  on  which  he  difcovered 
inhabitants,  probably  the  Efkimaux.  He  landed  in  feX'tlTil 
places  along  the  coafl  of  the  Gulf,  and  took  poffenion  of  th« 
country  in  the  king's  name.  On  his  return,  he  was  again  fent 
out  with  a  commifTion,  and  a  pretty  large  force  ;  he  returned  in 
1535,  and  paiTed  the  winter  at  St.  Croix  ;  but  the  feafon  proved 
fo  icvere,  that  he  aT)d  his  companions  muft  have  died  of  the 
fcurs'/y,  had  they  not,  by  the  gdvice  of  the  natives,  made  ufe 
of  the  decoftion  of  the  tops  and  bark  of  the  white  pines.  As 
Cartier,  however,  could  produce  neither  gold  nor  filver,  all 
that  he  could  lay  about  the  utility  of  the  letilement  was  difre- 
gardcd  :  ana  in  1540,  he  was  obliged  to  become  pilot  to  one  M. 
Roberval,  who  was  by  the  French  king  appointed  viceroy  of 
Canada,  and  who  lailed  from  France  with  five  veffcls.  Arriving 
»t  the  puif  of  St.  Lawrence,  they  built  a  fort  ;  and  Cartier 
xyas  left  to  command  the  garrifon  in  it,  while  Roberval  returned 
to  France  for  additional  recruits  to  his  fettlement.  At  laft, 
having  embarked  in  1549,  with  a  great  number  of  adventufers, 
neither  he  nor  any  of  his  follqvvcrs  were  heard  of  more. 

This  fatal  accident  fo  greatly  difcou raged  the  pourt  of  France, 
that  for  fifty  years  no  meafures  were  taken  for  fupplying  with 
necelTaries  the  lettlcrs  that  v.'ere  left.  Aj;  laft  Henry  IV.  ap- 
pointed the  Ivlarquis  de  la  Roche  lieutenant-general  of  Canada 
and  the  neighbouring  countries.  In.  1598  he  landed  on  the  lile 
of  Salle,  which  he  abfurdly  thought  to  be  a  proper  place  for  a 
fettlcrrient,  though  it  vifas  without  any  po.rt,iind  without^produfl: 
except  briars.  Here  he -left  about  forty  malefaHors",  the  refufe 
of  the  French  jails.  After  cruizing  for  fome  time  on  the  coaft 
of  Nova  Scotia,  without  being  able  to  relieve  thefe  poof 
wretches,  he  returned  to  France,  where  he  died  pf  a  broken 
JicJirt.  His  c6lony  tnuft  have  perifhed,  had  not  a  Frdhch  fiiip 
been  wrecked  on  the  ifland,  and  a  few  fiieep  driven  upon  it  at 
the  fame  time.  With  the  boards  of  the  fliip  they  erefted  huts; 
and  while  the  fhcep  lafted  they  lived  on  fheipy  fejgding  a'ftbt- 
wards  on  fifn.  Their  clothes  v/earing  but,  fheV  made  coats  of 
feal-fkins  ;  and  in  this  miferable  condition  they  fpcht  feven 
ye^fS,  when  Henry  ordered  thepfi\ to "^e' brought  to  France. 
^I'he'ktng  had  the  curicfity  to  fee  them  in'jheir  feal-fltin  dreffcs, 
find  vv'as  io  moved  with  their  appearance^  -ihat  he  forgave  ~them 
all  their  offences,  and  gave  eadij  of ;  rfjiemiiity  .ci"tJWiftS'1ita  iiegiii 
tliP -Aorld  anesv,  '■--  '•■-    o-'i- ".r.-..    '':  ,»    .;,.5A  tar    ;' 


UPPER  AN D'LQWER  CANADA.  5 

•In  1600,  one  Chauvin,  a  commander  in  ike  French,  nat^y, 
attended  by  a  merchant  of  St.  Malo,  called  Pontgrave,  made  a 
voyage  to  Caiiada,  from  whence  he  returned  with  a  very  pro- 
fitable quantity  of  furs.  Next  year  he  repeated  the  voyage 
s^ith  the  fame  good  fortune,  but  died  while  he  was  preparing 
for  a  third.  The  many  fpecimens  of  profit  to  be  made  by  the 
Canadian  tiade,  at  laft  induced  the  public  to  think  favourably  of 
it.  An  armament  was  equipped,  and  the  command  of  it  given 
to  Pontgrave,  with  powers  to  extend  his  difcoveries  up  the  river 
St.  Lawrence.  He  failed  in  1603,  having  in  his  company  Sa- 
muel Champlain,  who  had  been  a  captain  in  the  navy,  and  was 
a  man  of  parts  and  fpirit.  It  was  not,  however,  till  the  year 
1608,  that  the  colony  was  fully  eftablifhed.  This  was  accom- 
pliflied  by  founding  the  city  of  Quebec,  which  from  that  time 
commenced  the  capital  of  all  the  fettlements  in  Canada.  The 
colony,  however,  for  many  years  continued  in  a  low  wav,  and 
was  often  in  danger  of  being  totally  exterminated  by  the  In- 
dians. As  the  particulars  of  thefe  wars,  however,  could  nei- 
ther be  entertaining,  nor  indeed  intelligible,  to  many  of  our 
readers,  we  choofe  to  omit  them,  and  in  general  obferve,  that 
the  French  not  only  concluded  a  permanent  peace  with  the  In-' 
dians,  but  fo  much  ingratiated  themfelves  with  them,  that  they 
could,  with  the  greateft  eafe,  prevail  upon  them  at  any  time  to 
murder  and  fcalp  the  Englifli  in  their  fettlements.  Thefe  prac- 
tices had  a  confiderable  fliare  in  bringing  about  a  war  with 
France,  when  the  whole  country  was  conquered  by  the  Brilifh 
in  1761;  and  at  the  treaty  of  Paris,  in  1763,  was  ceded,  by 
France,  to  the  crown  of  England,  to  whom  it  has  ever  fujce 
belonged.* 

FACE  OF  THE  COUNTRY,  PRODUCE,  &c. 
Though  the  climate  is  cold,  and  the  winters  long  and  tedioug, 
the  foil  in  general  is  very  good,  and  in  many  parts  extremely 
fertile  ;  producing  many  different  lorts  of  grains,  fruits,  and  ve- 
getables. The  meadow  grounds,  which  are  well  watered,  yield 
excellent  grafs,  and  breed  vaft  numbers  of  great  and  fmall  cat- 
tle. The  uncultivated  parts  are  a  continued  wood,  compofed  qf 
prodigious  large  and  lofty  trees,  of  which  there  is  fuch  a  va- 
riety of  fpecies,  that  even  of  thofe  who  have  taken,  mgft  pains 
.to  know,  them,  there  is  not  perhaps  one  that  can  tell,  half  the 
number.  Canada  produces,  among  others,  two  lorts  of  pines, 
the  white,   and  the  red  ;  four  ibrts  of  firs  ;  two  forts  of  ccuar 

^  For-»-  more  particular  hiftpry  of  this  cauntry  tlie  reader' i^rtfeWred  to  Char- 
Jevoix's.hillory  of .  it ;.  to.,the  Encyclopedia  Britapni<:ai  articles,; Canada^  lOue- 
bee,  and  America,  No.  19.5,  2CX)j  and  207.  ,•',■■•;  ;..)■..        •, .• 


S  <^ENERAl.  DESCRIPTION    OF 

and  oak,  the  white  and  the  red  ;  the  male  and  female  maple  ; 
three  fort^  of  afh  trees,  the.fr^e,  the  mungrel,  and  the  baftard  ; 
thfee  forts  of, walnut  trees,  the  hard,  the  foft,  and  the  fmooth  ; 
vafh  numbers  of  beech  trees  and  white  wood  ;  while  and  red 
elpis,  and  poplars.  The  Indians  hollow  the  red  elms  into  ca- 
noes, feme  of  which  made  out  of  one  piece  will  contain  twenty 
perfons ;  other$  are  made  of  the  bark;  the  different  pieces  o^ 
which  they  (ew  together  with  the  inner  rind,  and  daub  over  the 
feams  with  pitch,  or  rather  a  bituminous  matter  relcmbling  pitch, 
to  prevent  their  leaking  ;  the  ribs  of  thefe  canoes  are  made  of 
boughs  of  trees.  In  the  hollow  elms,  the  bears  and  wild  cats 
take  up  their  lodging  from  November  to  April.  The  country 
produces  alio  a  vaft  variety'  of  other  vegetables,  particularly  tOr 
baqco,  which  thrives  well.  Near  Quebec  is  a  fine  lead  mine, 
and  many  excellent  ones  of  iron  have  been  difcovered.  It  hath 
alfo  been  reported  that  filver  is  found;  in  fome  of  the  mountains. 
The  rivers  are  e>;trcmcly  numerous,  and  many  of  them  very 
large  and  deep.  The  principal  arc,  the  Ouattauas,  St.  John's, 
Seguinay,  Defpaires,  and  Trois  Rivieres;  but  all  thcle  are  Iwal- 
lowed  up  by  the  great  river  St,  Lawrence.  This  river  iffues 
from  the  lake  Ontario  ;  and,  taking  its  courle  north-eaft,  walhes 
Montreal,  where  it  receives  the  Ouattauais,  and  forms  many 
fertile  iflands.  It  continues  the  fame  courte,  and  meets  the  tsde 
upwards  of  four  hundred  miles  from  the  fea,  where  it  is  navi^ 
gable  for  large  veflels  ;  and  below  Quebec,  three  hundred  and 
fvvfntv  miles  from  the  lea,  it  becomes  fo  broad  and  ib  deep,  that 
{hips  of  the  line  contributed  in  the  laft  war  to  reduce  that  city. 
After  receiving  in  its  progrefs  innumerable  flreams,  it  at  laft 
falls  into  the  ocean  at  Cape  Rollers,  where  it  is  ninety  miles 
broad,   and    where    the    cold   is  intenl'e,  and   the  lea  boiftercus. 

This  river  is  the  only  one  upon  which  any  fetilemcnls   of  note 

+      ,.  'J  iH    .ii' 
are  as  yet  forrned.  , 

A  river  has  been  lately  furveyed,  by  the  deputy  Survey ov- 
General  cf  Canada,  from  its  entrance  into  the  Bay  of  Rcnty, 
near  Carciaraqui,  to  its  iuurce  of  Ldke  St.  Clie  ;  froi?i  whicti 
there  is  an  ealy  and  fliort  porfsge  acrofs  N.  W.  to  the  N.  F. 
angle  of  I,ake  Huron  ^  and  another  that  is  neither  lc)ri«  nor  dif- 
ficult, to  the  ibuthvvard,  to  the  old  fettlcment  of  Toroptp, 
This  iz  a  Hiort  rout  from  Fort  Frontinac  to  Michillimakkir.ak. 

PP.INCIPAL  TOWNS. 

<2  u  :■:  B  £  c , 

■Quebec  is  the  capital,  net  only  of  ^  Lower  Canada,  but  of  ail 
Britih  America  ;  it    is    fituatcd  at  the  ronilyrnte  ef  th«-tiVev5 


UPPER  AND  LOWER  CANADA,  7 

St.  Lawrence  and  St.  Charles,  or  the  Little  River,  about 
three  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  the  Tea.  It  is  built  on  a 
rock,  partly  of  marble,  and  partly  of  Hate.  The  town  is  di- 
vided into  an  upper  and  lower.  The  houfes  in  both  are  of 
flone,  and  built  in  a  tolerable  manner.  The  fortifications  are 
ftrong,  though  not  regular.  The  town  is  covered  with  a  regu- 
lar and  beautiful  citydel,  in  which  the  governor  relides.  The 
river,  which  from  the  Tea  hither  is  four  or  five  leagues  broad, 
narrows  all  of  a  fuddcn  to  about  ».  mile  wide.  The  haven, 
which  lies  oppofitc  the  town,  is  fafe  and  commodious,  and  about 
five  fathoms  deep.  The  ha  1  hour  is  flanked  by  two  baflions, 
that  are  raifed  twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground,  which  is  about 
the  height  of  the  tides  at  the  time  of  the  equinox. 

From  Quebec  to  Montreal,  which  is  about  one  hundred  and 
fcventy  miles,  in  failing  up  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  the  eye  is 
entertained  with  beautiful  landlcapes,  the  banks  being  in  many 
pbices  very  bold  and  ftecp,  and  fhaded  with  lofty  trees.  The 
farms  lie  pretty  tlofe  all  the  way,  fcveral  gentlemens'  houfes, 
neatly  built,  ihew  themlclves  at  intervals,  and  there  is  all  the 
appearance  of  a  flourifning  colony  ;  but  there  .re  few  towns  or 
villages.  It  is  pretty  much  like  the  well  fetfled  parts  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Maiyland,  where  the  planters  arc  wholly  within 
themfelves.  Many  beautiful  iflands  are  interfperfed  in  the 
channel  of  the  river,  which  have  an  agreeable  effe6l  upon  the 
eye.  After  pa ffing  the  Richelieu  iflands,  the  air  becorries  fo 
mild  and  temperate,  that  the  traveller  thinks  himfelf  tranfported. 
to  another  climate  ;  but  this  is  to  be  uriderflood  only  of  the 
fummer  months. 

TROIS     RIVIERES. 

The  town  called  Trois  Rivieres,  or  the  Three  Rivers,  is 
about  half  way  between  Quebec  and  Montreal,  and  has  its  name 
frem  three  rivers  which  join  their  currents  here,  and  fall  into 
the  ti¥tv  St.  I/awrence.  It  is  much  reforted  to  by  feveral  na- 
tions of  Indians,  who,  by  means  of  theie  rivers,  come  hither 
and  trade  with  the  inhabitants  in  various  kinds  of  furs  and 
fkiTiS.  The  country  is  pleafant,  and  fertile  in  corn,  fruit,  &c. 
and  great  numbers  of  handiome  houl'es  fland  on  both  fides  the 
river. 

M  O  N  T  il  E  .V  L . 

Montreal  fi.anJs  on  an  Ulund  in  the  river  St.  Lawrence,, 
which  is  ten  leagues  in  length,  and  four  in  breadth,  at  the  foot 
of  a  inountam  whicji  gives  name  to  it,   about  half  a  league  from 


8  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

the  fouth  fhore.  While  the  French  had  poffeflTion  of  Canada^ 
both  the  city  and  ifland  of  Montreal  belonged  to  private  pro- 
prietors, who  had  improved  them  lo  well,  that  the  whole  ifland 
had  become  a  mod  deliglitful  fpot,  and  produced  every  thing 
that  could  adminifter  to  the  conveniencies  of  life.  The  citv 
forms  an  oblong  fqunre,  divided  by  regular  and  well-formed 
ftreets  ;  and  when  taken  by  the  Englifh  the  houfes  were  built 
in  a  Very  handlome  manner  ;  and  every  houfe  might  be  feen  at 
one  view  from  the  harbour,  or  from  the  fouthernmofl:  fide  of 
the  river,  as  the  hill  on  the  fide  of  which  the  town  ftands  falls 
gradually  to  the  water.  This  place  is  furrounded  by  a  wall  and 
a  dryditch  ;  and  its  fortifications  have  beeil  much  improved  by 
the  Jinglifh.  Montreal  is  nearly  as  large  as  Quebec,  but  fincc 
it  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Englifh  it  has  iuffered  much  by 
fires. 

The  principal  towns  in  Upper  Canada  are  Kingfton,  on  Lake 
Ontario,  Niagara,  Ijetween  Lake  Ontario  and  Lake  Erie^  and 
Detroit,  fituated  on  the  weftern  bank  of  Detroit  riverj  be- 
tween Lake  Erie  and  Lake  Huron,  and  nine  rhiles  below  Lake 
St.  Clair.* 

POPULATION. 

Upper  Canada,  though  an  infant  fettlerftent,  is  faid  by  fome 
to  contain  forty  thoufand,  by  others,  only  twenty  thoufand  in- 
habitants.  The  truth  probably  is  between  them;  Lower  Ca- 
nada, in  1784,  contained  one  hundred  thirteen  thouland  and 
twelve  fouls.  Both  provinces  maj^  now  contain  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-two  thoufand  fouls,  which  number  is  multiplying, 
both  by  natural  increafe  and  by  emigrations. 

RELIGION. 

About  nine  tenths  of  the  inhabitants  of  thcfe  provinces  arc 
Roman  Catholics,  who  enjoy  under  the  prefent  government  thfc 
fame  provifion,  rights,  and  privileges,  as  were  granted  them  jnt 
*7  745  ^y  ^^^  '"^  '^^  14th  of  George  III.  The  reft  of  the  peo-^ 
pie  are  Epifco'palians,  Prefbyterians,  and  a  icw  of  ahr.oft  all  the 
tlifFerent  iec^s  of  Ghrillians. 

TRADE. 

The  comrnodities  required  by  th«  Canadians  from'  Europe  are, 

■wine,  or  rather  rum  ;  cloths,  chiefly  coarle  ;  linen  ;   and  wraught! 

iron.      The  Indian  trade  requires  rum,   tobacco,    a  fort  of  dufHl 

blankets,  guns,  powder,  bails,  and  flints,  krttles,  hatchets,  toys, 

*  Niagara  and  Derroit,  though  at  prefent  in  poffeflion  of  the  Britifli  govci'a. 
tnent,  contrarj  to  tk^  treaty  of  ptacj,  arc,  without  any  pollibk  doubt,  both  withij 
the  limits  of  t-  .  Uuv.cd  Stares. 


UPPER  AND  LOWER  CANADA.  9 

and  trinkets  of  all  kinds.  While  the  country  was  in  poffeflion 
of  the  French,  the  Indians  luppUed  them  with  poultry  ;  and 
ihe  French  had  traders,  who,  like  the  original  inhabitants,  tra- 
verfed  the  vaft  lakes  and  rivers  in  canoes,  with  inctedible  induf- 
try  and  patience,  carrying  their  goods  into  the  remoteft  parts  of 
America,  and  among  nations  entirely  unknown  to  us.  Thefe 
again  brought  the  furs,  &c.  home  to  them,  as  the  Indians  were 
thereby  habituated  to  trade  with  them.  For  this  purpote,  people 
from  all  parts,  even  from  the  diflance  of  one  thoufand  miles, 
came  to  the  French  fair  at  Montreal,  which  began  in  June,  and 
fometimes  lafted  three  months.  On  this  occafion  many  folemni- 
tifes  were  oblerved,  guards  were  placed,  and  the  governor  afli lied 
to  preferve  order  in  fo  great  and  various  a  concourfc  of  favage 
nations.  But  fometimes  great  diiorders  and  tumults  happened  : 
and  the  Indians  frequently  gave  for  a  dram  all  that  ihey  were 
poffeffed  of.  It  is  remarkable,  that  many  of  thefe  nations  a£lu- 
ally  paffed  by  the  then  Englifh  fettlement  of  Albany  in  New- 
York,  and  travelled  two  hundred  miles  further  to  Montreal^ 
though  they  could  have  purchased  the  goods  they  wanted  cheaper 
at  the  former. 

Since  Britain  became  pofleffed  of  Canada,  her  trade  with  that 
country  has  generally  employed  from  thirty  to  forty  fhips,.  and 
about  four  thoufand  feamen. 

The  amount  of  the  exports  from  the  province  of  Quebec,  as 
far  back  as  in  the  year  1786,  was  three  hundred  forty-three 
thoufand  two  hundred  and  fixty-two  pounds,  nineteen  fhjllings 
and  fix-pence.  'Ihe  amount  of  imports  in  the  fams  year  was 
thre«  hundred  twenty-five  thoufand  one  hundred  and  fixteen 
pounds.  The  exports  confided  of  wheat,  flour,  bifcuit,  fl?x- 
feed,  lumber  of  various  kinds,  fifh,  potafh,  oil,  ginfeng  and 
other  medicinal  roots,  £ut  principally  of  furs  and 
PELTRIES,  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  eighty-five  thou- 
fand nine  hundred  and   ieventy-leven  pounds.*     The    imports 


•  Should  America  infift  (as  no-doubt  fiie  will)  on  Great  Britain  furrcndering 
the  frontier  forts,  and  thole  lands  and  fettlements  which  fhe  has  hitherto  held  in 
defiance  of  the  moft  folemn  treaties,  there  cannot  remain  a  doubt  but  ninc- 
tenths  of  the  fur  trade,  will  pafs  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  This  will 
prove  a  moft  fcverc  blow  to  the  Canadian  commerce,  as  well  as  to  the  re- 
venue of  Great  Britain,  while  the  Americans,  grown  wile  by  experience,  fend- 
ing their  furs  direft  to  France,  Germany,  &c.  inftead  of  caufing  them  to  pofs 
through  the  hands  of  Britifli  merchants  and  brokers,  will  be  able  to 
divide  an  additional  profit  of  from  tiiirty  to  tifty  per  cent,  between   tliem- 


^io  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION  OF 

confifled  of  rum,  brandy,  molaffes,  cofFee,  fugar,  wines,  to- 
bacco,  lalt,  chocolate,  provifions  for  the  trooos,  and  dry 
goods. 

GOVERNMENT. 

By  the  Quebec  aft,,  paffad  by  the  parliament  of  Great  Britain 
in  the  year  1791,  lo  much  of  the  aft  of  the  14th  of  George 
III.  pafled  in  the  year  1774,  as  relates  to  the  appointment  of  a 
council  for  the  government  of  the  province  of  Quebec,  is  re- 
pealed ;  and  it  is  enaftcd  that  there  fliall-be  within  each-of  the 
provinces  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada,  a  LegiflHtive  Council, 
and  an  AfTcmblv,  who,  with  the  content  of  the  Governor, 
appointed  by  the  King,  Ihall  have  power  to  make  laws.  The 
governor  may  give  or  withhold  his  majefly's  affent  to  bills  palled 
by  the  leijiflative  council  and  airembly,  or  referve  them  for  his 
majrfty's  plcafure.  Bills  referved  are  to  have  no  force  till  his 
rnajcfty's  affent  is  hgnified  by  the  governor,  which,  to  be  valid, 
mull  be  hgnified  within  two  years  from  the  time  the  bill  is  prc- 
fented  to  the  governor.  The  governor  mufl  tranfmit  to  the 
fecretary  of  ftste  copies  of  fuch  bills  as  have  been  alfented  to, 
•which  his  Majefty  in  council  may  declare  his  dirallcwance  of 
within  two  years  from  the  receipt. 

The  Lec^illative  Council  is  to  confift  of  not  fewer  than  feven 
members  for  Upper,  and  fifteen  for  Lower  Canada,  to  be  fum- 
moned  by  the  Governor,  who  mufl;  be  authorized  by  the  King. 
Such  members  are  to  hold  their  feats  for  life,  unlel's  forfeited  by 
four  years  continual  ablence,  or  by  fwearing  allegiance  to  foine 
foreign  power. 

Ihe  rioufe  of  i^flembly  is  to  confifl  of  not  lefs  than  fixteen 
members  from  Upper,  and  not  lels  than  fifty  from  Lower 
Canada,   choien   by    the    freeholders   in    the   fevcral    towns   and 

felvrs  and  the  merchants  of  thofe  countries.— A  profit  which  is  now  exclufively 
enjoved  by  Britifh  fubjscls,  or  foreigners  refiding  in  Great  Britain,  as  interme- 
diate agents  ;  but,  it  iTiay  be  faid,  that  the  icarcity  of  fpecie  in  America,  and 
their  <^reat  demand  for  Englifh  manufaftures,  will  fecure  the  fur  trade  to  Great 
Britain fuch,  however,  fliould  remember,  that  the  rapid  progrefs  of  manufac- 
tures in  tlu:  United  States,  aided  by  the  prefent  fpirit  of  emigration  in  Europe, 
will  foon  lelTcn  this  demand,  and  leave  the  Americans  at  liberty  to  carry  their 
ftirs  and  other  articles  to  a  market  which  will  rapidly  increafe  their  fpecie  fuffi- 
cient  to  enable  them  to  range  the  European  and  other  markets  with  that  advan- 
tage which  the  Britifh  merchant  has  long  experienced  almofl  without  a  rival — 
indeed,  it  is  impoffible  to  confider  the  rapid  advances  which  America  has  made 
lince  her  independence,  without  at  the  fame  time  being  convinced,  ti-rat  inftead 
of  drawing  her  fupplies  of  manufatiured  goods  from  Grtat  Britain,  flie  will, 
er'c  long,  become  her  rival  in  the  molf  import-ant  articles  in  almoll  every  other 
European  market. 


UPPER  AND  LOWER  CANADA.  ii 

diflrifts.  The  council  and  affembly  are  to  be  called  together  at 
lead  once  in  every  year ;  and  every  affembly  is  to  continue  four 
years  unlefs  fooner  dilfolved  by  the  Governor.  All  queRions 
are  to  be  decided  by  a  majority  of  votes  of  the  members  preltnt. 
His  Majefly  may  authorize  the  Governor  to  fix  the  time  and 
place  of  holding  the  elcftions,  (fubjeft,  however,  to  fuch  pro- 
vifions  as^  may  hereafter  be  made  by  the  Legiflature)  and  to 
fix  the  times  and  places  of  holding  the  fefTions  of  the  ailembly, 
and  to  prorogue  and  diffolve  the  fame  whenever  he  fliall  judge 
it  necefluiry. 

The  Governor,  together  with  fuch  of  the  executive  council 
as  fhall  be  appointed  by  the  King,  for  the  affairs  of  each 
province,  are  to  be  a  court  of  civil  jurifdiftion  for  hearing  and 
determining  appeals,  fubjeft,  however,  to  fuch  appeals  from 
their  judgment  as  heretofore  exifted.  All  lands  in  Upper 
Canada  are  to  be  granted  hereafter  in  free  and  common  foccage  ; 
and  alfo  in  Lower  Canada,  when  the  grantee  fhall  dellie  it,  tub- 
jeft  neverthelefs  to  alterations  by  aa  aft  of  the  Legiflature. 

Britilh  America  is  fuperintend'ed  by  an  ofHcer  ftiled  Gover- 
nor General  of  the  four  Britifh  provinces  in  North-America, 
who,  befides  other  powers,  is  commander  in  chief  of  all  the 
Britilh  troops  in  the  four  provinces  and  the  go\'ernments  attach- 
ed to  them  and  Newfoundland.  ,  Each  of  the  provinces  hc^ve  a 
Lieutenant  Governor,  who,  in  the  abfence  of  the  Governor 
General,  has  all  the  powers  requifite  to  a  chief  magiftrate. 


C     2 


12  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

THE    I:S  L  AND 

OF 

CAPE    BRETON; 

ANNEXED    TO     THE     PaO*VINCE     OT     LOVVfiR     C-i^ADAi 

SITUATION,  EXTENT,  &c. 

The  ifland,  or  rather  colleftion  of  iflaxids,  called  by  the 
French  Les  J_f.es  de  Madam,  which  lie  lo  contiguous  as  that 
they  are  commonly  called  but  one,  and  comprehended  under 
the  name  of  the  Ifland  of  Cape  Breton,  lies  betvveen  lat.  45** 
and  4'jO  N.  and  between  59^  and  60°,  W.  long,  from  Lon- 
don, or  14^  and  15°  E.  long,  from  Philadelphia,  and  about  45 
leagues  to  the  eaftward  of  Halifax.  It  is  about  one  Hundred 
miles  in  length,  and  fifty  in  breadth ;  and  is  feparated  from 
Nova  Scotia  by  a  narrow  fl;rait,  called  the  Gut  of  Canfo,  which 
is  the  communication  between  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  the 
Gulph  of  St.   Lawrence, 

It  is  furrounded  with  little  fliarp-pointed  rocks,  feparated 
from  esch  other  by  the  waves,  above  which  fome  of  their  tops 
are  vifible.  All  its  harbours  are  open  to  the  eaft,  turning 
towards  the  fouth.  On  the  other  parts  of  the  coaft  there  are 
but  a  few  anchoring  places  for  fmall  vefTels,  in  creeks,  or 
between  iflets.  The  harbour  of  St.  Peter's,  at  the  weft  end 
of  the  ifland,  is  a  very  commodious  place  for  carrying  on  the 
fifhery. 

CLIMATE. 

Except  in  the  hilly  parts,  the  furface  of  the  country  has  but 
little  folidity,  being  every  v/here  covered  with  a  light  mois 
and  with  w;ater.  The  dampnefs  of  the  foil  is  exhaled  in  fogs, 
without  rendering  the  air  unwholelome.  In  other  refpefts,  the 
climate  is  very  cold,  owing  either  to  the  prodigious  quantity  of 
lakes,  which  cover  above  half  the  ifland,  and  remain  frozen  a 
long  time  ;  or  to  the  number  of  forefts,  that  totally  intercept 
the  rays  of  the  fun  ;  the  efFeft  of  which  is  befides  decreaied  by 
perpetual  clouds, 

HISTORY  OF  ITS  SETTLEMENT, -&e»-- 

Though  fome  fiflaermen  had  long  reforted  to  this  ifland  evej:js, 
fumm^r,  not  more  than  twenty  or  thirty  had  ever  fixed  there^- 
Ths  Fxench,  who  took  pofl"effion  of  it  in.  Augufl:  1713^-  were, 


UPPER  AI^D  LOWER  CANADA.  i^  . 

properly  the  firft  inhabitants.  They  changed  its  name  into  that 
of  Jjle  Royale,  and  fixed  upon  Fort  Dauphin  for  their  principal 
fettlement.  This  harbour  was  two  leagues  in  circumference. 
The  fliips  came  to  the  very  fhore,  and  were  fheltered  from 
winds.  Forefts  affording  oak  lufficient  to  fortify  and  build  a 
large  city,  were  near  at  hand  ;  the  ground  appeared  lefs  barren 
than  in  other  part?,  and  the  fifhery  was  more  plentiful.  This 
harbour  might  have  been  rendered  impregnable  at  -a  trifling  ex- 
pence  ;  but  the  difficulty  of  approaching  it  (a  circumftance  that 
had  at  firft  made  a  ftronger  impreflion  than  the  advantages  reiult- 
ing  from  it)  occafioned  it  to  be  abandoned,  after  great  labour  had 
been  beftowed  upon  the  undertaking.  They  then  turned  their 
views  to  Louifbourg,  the  accefs  to  which  was  eafier;  and  con- 
venience was  thus  preferred  to  feeurity  :  the  fortification  of 
Louifbourg,   however,   was  not  begun  till  1-720. 

In  the  year  1714,  fome  fifhermen,  who  till  then  had  lived  in 
Newfoundland,  fettled  in  this  ifland.  It  was  expefted  that 
their  number  would  loon  have  been  increafed  by  the  Acadians, 
who  were  at  liberty,  from  the  treaties  that  had  been  granted 
them,  to  remove  with  all  their  effefts,  and  even  to  difpofe  of 
their  eftates  ;  but  thefe  hopes  were  difappointed.  The  Acadi- 
ans chofe  rather  to  retain  their  poffeflions  under  the  dominion 
of  Britain,  than  to  give  them  up  for  any  precarious  advantage 
they  might  derive  from  their  attachment  to  France.  Their 
place  was  lupplied  by  fome  diftreffed  adventurers  from  Europe, 
who  came  over  from  time  to  time  to  Cape  Breton,  and  the  num- 
ber of  inhabitants  gradually  increafed  to  four  thouland.  They 
were  fettled  at  Louifbourg,  Fort  Dauphin,  Fort  Touloufe, 
Nerucka,  and  on  the  coafts  where  tliey  found  a  proper  beach 
for  drying  the  cod. 

This  ifl.ind  was  attacked  by  the  Englifh  in  1745;  and  the 
event  is  of  fo  fingular  a  nature,  that  it  deferves  a  particular 
detail.  The  plan  of  this  firft  invafion  was  laid  at  Bofton,  and 
New-England  bore  the  exoence  of  it.  A  merchant  named 
Peppcrd,  who  had  excited,  encouraged,  and  direfted  the  enter- 
prizc,  was  intrufted  with  the  command  of  an  army  of  fix  thou- 
sand men,   which  had  been  levied  for  this  expedition. 

Though  thefe  forces,  convoyed  by  a  fquadron  from  Jamaica^ 
brought  the  firft  news  to  Cape  Breton  of  the  danger  that  threat- 
ened it;  though  the  advantage  of  a  furprife  would  have  fecured 
the  landing  without  oppofition  ;  though  they  had  but  fix  hun- 
dred regular  troops  to  encounter,  and  eight  hundred  "inhabitants 
haftily'- armed,  the  fuccefs  of  the  undertaking  was  ftill  prcca- 
rious»     What  great  exploits,   iudced,  could  be  expc£ted -Fi'om  a 


14  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

xnilitia  fuddenly  affembled,  who  had  never  feen  a  fiege  or  faced 
an  enemy,  and  were  to  aft  under  the  direftion  of  fea-ofEcers 
only..  Thefc  unexperienced  troops  ftood  in  need  of  the  affif- 
tance  of  feme  fortunate  incident,  which  they  were  indeed 
favoured  with  in  a  fingular  manner. 

The  conftruftion  and  repairs  of  the  fortifications  had  always 
been  left  to  the  care  of  the  garrilon  of  Louifbourg.  The  fol- 
diers  were  eager  of  being  employed  in  thefe  works,  which  they 
confidered  as  conducive  to  their  lafety,  and  as  the  means  of 
procuring  thern  a  comfortable  fubfiftence.  When  they  found 
that  thofe  who  were  to  have  paid  them,  appropriated  to  them- 
felves  the  profit  of  their  labours,  they  demanded  juftice.  It 
■was  denied  them,  and  they  were  determined  to  affert  their 
light.  As  fhefe  depredations  had  been  fhared  between  the  chief 
perfons  of  the  colony  and  the  fubaltern  officers,  the  foldiers  could 
obtain  no  redrels.  Their  indignation  againfh  thefe  rapacious  ex- 
tortioners rofe  to  fuch  a  height,  that  they  defpifed  all  authority. 
They  had  lived  in  an  open  rebellion  for  fix  months,  when  the 
Bntifh  appeared  before  the  place. 

This  was  the  time  to  conciliate  the  minds  of  both  parties,  and 
to  unite  in  the  common  caufe.  Tine  Soldiers  made  the  firft 
advances ;  but  their  commanders  miftrufted  a  generofity  of 
which  they  themfclves  were  incapable.  It  was  firmly  believed 
fhst  the  foldiers  were  only  dcfirous  of  fallying  out,  that  they 
might  have  an  opportunity  of  deferting  ;  and  their  own  officers 
kept  them  in  a  manner  prifoners,  till  a  defence  lo  ill  managed 
had  reduced  them  to  the  neceffity  of  capitulating.  The  whole 
ifland  fhared  the  fate  of  Louifbourg,  its  only  bulwark. 

This  valuable  polTeffion,  rcflored  to  France  by  the  treaty  of 
Aix  la  Chapelle,  was  again  attacked  by  the  Britifli  in  1758,  and 
taken.  The  poffeffion  was  confirmed  to  Great  Britain  by  the 
peace  in  1763;  fince  which  the  fortifications  have  been  blown 
up,  and  the  town  of  Louifbourg  diimantled. 

SOIL,  PRODUCTIONS,  &c. 

The  inhabitants  never  applied  themfelvcs  to  agriculture,  the 
foil  being  unfit  for  it.  They  often  fowed  corn,  but  it  Ifcidom 
came  to  maturity  ;  and  when  it  did  thrive  fo  much  as  to  be 
worth  reaping,  it  had  degenerated  io  confiderahly,  that  it  was 
not  fit  for  feed  for  the  next  harveft.  They  have  only  continued 
to  plant  a  few  pot-herbr-  that  are  tolerably  well  tailed^,*  btitmuft 
be  renewed  every  year  from  abroad.  The  poornefs  and  fcarcity 
of  paftures  has  likevvile  prevented  the  increafe  of  cattle.  In  a 
word,  the  foil  of  Cape  Breton  leems  cak-ulated' to  •^inviteimGlne' 
but  nfhermen.  ■  •        ;  !  ...      .,  -■.> 


Upper  a nd  lower  Canada,  \^ 

Tliougii  the  iiland  was  entirely  covered  with  fore  (Is  before  it 
was  inhabited,  its  wood  has  (carce  ever  been  an  obj^ft  of  trade, 
A  great  quantity,  however,  of  ibft  wood  was  found  there  fit  for 
firing,  and  fprne  that  might  be  ufcd  for  timber:  but  the  oaTc  has 
always  been  fcarce,  and  the  fir  rvever  yielded  much  refin.  TKe 
peltry  trade  was  a  very  inconfiderable  objeft.  It  confifted  only 
in  the  fkins  of  a  few  lynxes,  elks,  mufk-r^ts,  wild  cats,  bears, 
otters,  and  foxes  both  of  a  red  and  filvcr-grey  colour.  Some  of 
thefe  were  procured  from  a  colony  of  Mickmac  Indians  who  had 
fettled  on  the  ifland  with  the  French,  and  never  could  raile  more 
than  fixty  men  able  to  bear  arms.  The  rtlt  came  from  St.  John's 
or  the  neighbouring  continent.  Greater  advantages  mit^ht  pofli- 
bly  have  been  derived  from  the  coal  mines,  which  abound  in  the 
ifland.  They  lie  in  a  horizontal  direftion  ;  and  being  no  move 
than  fix  or  eight  feet  below  the  furface,  may  be  worked  without 
digging  deep,  or  draining  off  the  waters.  Notwithftanding  the 
prodigious  demand  for  this  coal  from  New-Enfi.land,  from  the 
year  1745  to  1749,  thele  mines  would  probably  have  been  for- 
faken,  had  not  the  fhips  which  were  fent  out  to  the  French 
iflnnds  wanted  ballaft.  In  one  of  thefe  mines  a  fire  has  beea 
kindled,  which  could  never  yet  be  extinguillied. 

The  people  of  Cape  Breton  did  not  fend  all  their  fifh  to  Eu- 
rope, they  fent  part  of  it  to  the  French  fouthern  illands,  on  board 
twenty  or  twenty-five  fliips  from  feventy  to  one  hundred  and 
forty  tons  burden.  Befides  the  cod,  which  made  at  leafl  half 
their  cargo,  they  exported  to  the  other  colonies  timber,,  planks 
thin  oak  boards,  faked  falmon  and  mackrel,  train-oil  and  fea- 
coal.  All  thcle  were  paid  for  in  fugar  and  coffee,  but  chiefly  ia 
1  urn  and  molaifes.  The  ifland  could  not  confume  ?11  thele  com- 
modities. Canada  took  off  but  a  fmall  part  of  the  overplus  •  it 
was  chiefly  bought  by  the  people  of  New-England,  who  gave  ia 
exchange  fruits,  vegetables,  \vood,  brick,  and  cattle.  Tiiis  trade 
of  exchange  was  allowed  ;  but  a  fmuggling  trade  was  added  to 
It.   carried  on  in  flour,   and  fait  fifh, 

POPULATION,   CPIIEF  TOWNS,   &c. 

On  this  ifland  there  are  about  one  thoufand  inhabitants,  w!io 
have  a  lieutenant-governor  reiident  among  them,  appointed  bv 
the  king.  The  principal  towns  are  Sidney,  the  caoital,  and 
Louifbourg,  Which  has  the  befl  haibour  in  the  ifldnd. 

Tltis  ifland  ttvay  be  confidered  as  the  key  to  Canada.  aAd  thfe 
very  vallisbie  ftfhcry,  in  its  neighbourhood,  depends  for  its  pi'otec!''^ 
tion  on  the  polTcihon  of  this  ifland;  as  no  nation  can  carry  it  on 
wiihejut  fomc  convenient  harbour  of  flrcngth  to  fupply  and  pro- 
tctl  It ;  and  Louifbourg  is  the  principal  one  for  tlicie  pufpbfds. 


i6  GENERAL   DESC  R2  PTION  OF 

NEW    BRITAIN;- 

ANNEXED  TO  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  LOWER  CANAdA, 

The  country  lying  round  Hudfon's  Bay,  or  the  country  of  th« 
Efquimaux,  comprehended  Labrador,  New  North  and  South 
Wales,  has  obtained  the  general  name  of  New  Britain',  and 
is  attached  to  the  government  of  Lower  Canada.  A  lupevin- 
tendant  of  trade,  appointed  by  the  Governor-General  of  the 
four  Britifh  Provinces,  and  refponfible  to  him,  refides  at 
Labrador. 

CLIMATE. 

The  climate,  even  about  Haye's  riv'^er,  in  only  lat.  517®,  is, 
during  winter,  exceflively  cold.  The  fnows  begin  to  fall  in 
Oftober,  and  continue  falling  by  intervals  the  whole  winter : 
and,  when  the  froft  is  moft:  rigorous,  in  form  of  the  fineft  fand. 
The  ice  on  the  rivers  is  eight  feet  thick.  Port  wine  freezes 
into  a  folid  mafs ;  brandy  coagulates.  The  very  breath  falls  on 
the  blankets  of  the  beds  in  the  form  of  a  hoar  froft,  and  the 
bed-cloaths  often  are  found  frozen  to  the  wall.  The  fun  rifes, 
in  the  fhorteft  day,  five  minutes  paft  nine,  and  fets  five  minutes 
before  three.  In  the  longeft  day  the  fun  rifes  at  three,  and  fets 
about  nine.  The  ice  begins  to  difappear  in  May,  and  hot 
weather  commences  about  the  middle  of  June,  which  at  times 
is  fo  violent  as  to  fcorch  the  faces  of  the  hunters.  Thunder  is 
not  frequent,  but  very  violent.  But  there  is  a  great  difference 
of  heat  and  cold  in  this  vaft  extent,  which  reaches  from  lat. 
50,  40,  to  lat.  63  north. — During  winter  the  firmament  is  not 
without  its  beauties.  Mock  funs,  halos  are  not  unfrequent ; 
they  are  very  bright,  and  richly  tinged  with  all  the  colours  of 
the  rainbow.  The  fun  rifes  and  fets  with  a  large  cone  of 
yellowilh  light.  The  night  is  enlivened  with  the  Aurora  Borea- 
lis,  which  fpreads  a  thoufand  different  lights  and  colours  over 
the  whole  concave  of  the  fky,  not  to  be  defaced  even  bv  the 
Jplendout  of  the  full  moon  ;  and  the  ftars  are  of  a  fiery  rednefs. 

In  this  feafon  it  however  frequently  happens,  that  the  air  is 
fo  full  of  watery  vapours,  that  the  fun  will  be  obfcured  for  fcve- 
ral  weeks  together.  This  is  occafioned  by  the  rime,  which  afcends 
fiom  the  open  fea  water,  and  being  condenfed  by  the  cold,  is 
driven  by  the  wind  to  a  confiderable  diftance  at  times,  from  forty 
to  fifty  miles. 

The  climate  is  very  perceptibly  milder  in  the  intei  ior,  than  in 
t}-ie  parts  on  the  fea  coaft.     The  fnow  is  not  half  fo   deep,  nei- 


N  E  JV   B  R  1  T  A  I  N.-  -  17 

tKer  are  the  hottefkclays  in'fummer  fo  fviltry.  If -a  man  is  frozen 
in  the  upper  country,  it  is  owing  to  his  not  having  taken  proper 
Care  of  himfelf  ;  whereas  upon  the  fea  cpaft,  with  every  ^eceffary 
precaution,  a  man  will  frequently  have  his  nolc.  fac'c,  or  fiiigeis- 
ends  fkinned. 

The  heavens,  in  cold  winter  nijht?,  do  not  exhibit  that  lumi- 
nous appearance,  which,  as  before  remarked,  is  obfcrvable  on 
the  ffea  coaft  ;  nor  do  the  flars  fhine  with  that  refulgent  luftre. 
The  Aurora  Borealis  i*  not  fo  common  nor  fo  brilliant  ;  the  Par- 
helia and  Parafeierres  are  Icfs  frequent;  and  fogs  in  the  winter 
are  unknown. 

In  fliort,  the  fea  coaft:  and  the  upper  country  will  admit  of  no 
comparifon  :  ono  is  temperate  and  Ivealthy,  the  land  dry,  plcafant, 
and  fertile  in  fporitaneous  productions,  and  tlie  animal  creation 
various  and  excellent  for  the  lupport  of  man  :  in  it,  a  pcrfon 
who  could  live  retired,  might  pafs  his  days  with  eafe,  contenr, 
and  felicity,  and  if  he  did  not  enjoy  an  uninterrupted  ftate  of 
health,  it  would  not  be  the  fault  of  the  air  he  lived  in.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  lower  country  is  one  endlels  hog,  where  the_  la- 
vage animals  therafelves  are  fometimes  conflantly  fvrampt.  The 
finefl;  fummer's  day  will  begin  with  a  fcorching  heat,  and  termi- 
nate with  a  cold  cafterly  fea  fog.  The  weather  ufually  inqidcnt 
to  autumn  and  midfummer,  is  experienced  in  their  different  ex- 
tremes during  the  fliort  fpace  of  twelve  hours.  The  inhabitants 
frequently  fall  a  prey  to  the  fcverity  of  the  froft.  The  whole 
country  furnifhes  hut  one  I'pecies  of  quadruped  fit  for  the  lupport 
of  man  ;  and  the  Europeans  are  accurfed  with  an  afilifting  epi- 
demical diforder,  which  they  very  emphatically  term  '■  The 
Country   Diftemper." 

FACE  OF  THE  COUNTRY,  SOIL,  &c. 

As  far  inland  as  the  Hudfon  Bay  Company  have  fettlemcnfs, 
which  is  fix  hundred  miles  to  the  weft  of  Fort  Churchill,  at  a 
place  called  Hudfon  lloufe,  lat.  53°,"lon.  106^  27 'W.  from  Lon- 
don, is. flat  country  :  nor  is  it  known  how  far  to  the  eailward 
the  great  chain  of  mountains  feen  by  the  navigators  from  the  Pa- 
cific Ocean  branches  off.  From  IMoofe  River,  or  the  bottom  of 
tli^  bay,  to  Cape  Churchill,  the  land  is  flat,  marfhy,  and  v/ooded 
with  pines,  biich,  larcii,  and  willows.  The  pine  trees,  which  arc 
©f  different  kinds,  arebutimall;  near  the  fea-'coalb  they  gene- 
rally run  knotty,  and  are  unfit  to  be  ufed  in  the  flruftureof  good 
buildiogs.  I'he  fame  may  be  faid  of  the  juftiper  trees,  growing 
in  the  lame  fituation. 
:  .  J5;yt  on  leaving  the  m»rfhy  ground,  and  retiring  inland  to  t]-,e 
.-jjfeuthward,  the  trees  are  of  a  more  ftately  growth  ;  a^id  shout 
Moofe  and  Albany  Forts,  they  are  found  of  all  diameters.     Here 

D 


i9  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

the   climate  is   much   more   temperate   than   at    York    Fort   att<i 
Churchill  Settlement.     Potatoes,  turnips,  and  almoft  every  fpccies 
©f  kitchen  g;udcn  ftuff,  are   reared  with    facility ;  and  no  doubt 
corn  might  be   cultivated,  if  the  lords  of  the  foil,  the  Hudfon's 
Bay   Company,   had    patriotifm   enough    to    make  this  extenfive 
country  of  any  iervice    to    Great-Britain.     But   it  has  been    an 
invariable   maxim  with  them  for  many  years  paft,  to  damp  every 
laudr^ble    endeavour  in  their   fervanis,  that   might  tend  to   make 
^hcie     countries    generally    beneficial    to    the    Mother    Country^; 
This   condu£t  will  appear  very  extraordinary  to   thoic   who   are. 
unacquainccd     with     the    lelf-intereftcd     views    of     the     Com- 
pany.    They  imagine,  that  if  it  was  known  to  the  nation,  that 
the  lands  they  polfels  were  capable  of  cultivation,  it  might  induce 
individuals  to   entjuire   into   their  right   to  an  excluhve  charter  ;. 
it, is  therefore  their  bufmefs   to    repvefent   it   in   the  worft  liglit- 
poflible,   to   diicourage  an  inquiry,   which  v/ould  fliake  the  foun- 
dation evf  their  beloved  monopoly. 

Throughout  the  woods  to  ;he  iouthward  the  ground. is  covered 
with  3  very  thJck  mols,  among  which  grow  various  kinds  of 
fmall  fhrubs,  bearing  fruit,  fuch  as  gooleberries,  currants,  flraw- 
berries,  raipberries,  cranberries,  with  many  others  too  tedious  ta 
mention.  A  hcrb^  which  the  natives .  call  IVte  Juc  a  piicka^ 
grows  very  plentifully  in  all  parts  of  the  country.  -  The  Indians 
n\ake  uie  of  it  by  way  of  medicine  ;  it  makes  a  very  agreeable 
tea,  and  is  much  u(ed  here,  both  by  Europeans  and  natives,  not 
only  for  its  pleal'ant  flavour,  but  for  its  i'alutary  effefts.  Its  vir- 
tues are  many  ;  it  is  an  aromatic,  very  Icrviceable  in  rheumatic- 
cafes,  ftrengthens  the  ftomach,-  relieves  the  head,  and  alio  pro- 
motes perlpiiation.  Outwajdly,  it  is  applied  to  gangrenes,  con- 
tuHons,  and  excoriations ;  in  the  latter  cafe  the  powder  is  made 
ufe  of.  Another  herb  of  much  utility  to  the  natives  grows 
t-ikewile  here  ;  this  they  call  Jack  ajli  a  puck.  They  mix  it  with 
their  tobacco  to  reduce  its  Itrength. 

In  the  interior  of  the  country  is  a  great  quantity  of  coal, 
which  is  conveyed  down  the  rivers  by  the  currents*  A  perfon 
bclo.Mging  to  the  Hudion  Bay  Company  once  brought  down  d 
piece  he  had  taken  from  the  earth,  vifhere  it  was  pried  up  in 
heaps.  It  was  in  every  refpeft  limilar  to  that  brought  to  London 
from  the  North  of  England  and  Scotland.  He  faid  that  he  alked 
the  Indians  the  ufe  of  it ;  'and  on  their  exprefling  their  ignorance, 
he  put  lome  of  it  in  the  fire,  which  burnt  violently  to  their 
great  aftonifhment.  What  other  treafures  may  be  concealed  in 
this  unknown  repository,  or  what  valuable  ores  may  be  intermix- 
ed with  the  coal,  we  will  not  take  upon  us  to  determine. 


^^EW  BR  IT  A  IN.  .  t.y 

,  All    thefe    cotintnes  ^re    wlII    ftored   wita   moofe,    beavers, 
otters,  &c.  but  the  red  deer,  jumping  deer,  and  buffaloe,  are   not 
to  bte  found    till  where  the  country  becomes  more  open,  and  fo 
free  from  woods,  that  in  many  places  (carce  a  fufFicienGy  can  be - 
procured  to  make  a  temporaiy  fire  for  travellers,  who  <ire  obhged-- 
inftead  thereof  to  ufe  buffaloe  dung. 

Many  fpacious  lakes  are  to  be  found  in  the  inland  parts,     Moft 
of  thefe  abound  with  fifh,  efpecially  when  joined  to  a  river;  but  • 
the  natives  feldom  or  never  look  after  them,  and  the  greater  p3n:_ 
of  thofe  Indian>s  who  come  to  the   Englifh   fettiements  to  trade, - 
will  neither  eat  fifh,  water-fowl,   nor  any  amphibious  anim^al,  ' 

How  far  the  foil  of  this  country  may  be  favourable  to  the  cul-' 
ture  of  vegetables,   we  are   not  able  to  advance.      Experiments,  ■ 
which  fliould  be  aur  principal  guide  to  knowledge  in  thcie  matters^ 
never  having  been  much  made  ule  of,  though  we  may  venture  to 
affert,  that  many  parts  would  admit  of  cultivation.     The  Hudfon's 
Bay  Company  fefvants  have  tried  Indian  corn  and  barley,  by  way 
of  experiment,  which  came  to  perfeftion  ;  potatoes,  turnips,   ca3%»i,  ^ 
rots,  radifhes,   onions,   Sec.  have  been  lately  reared^  aiid  found  as 
good  as  thofc  in  Canada.  '  «^^ 

The  fruits  which  fpontaneouily  flioot  up,  are  not  in'Tuch  greai** 
^rariety  in  the.  wiidcrnefles  of  Canada,  as  in  the  country  wc  arc 
fpeaking  of.  The  natives  colleft  vaft  quantities  of  a  kind  of  wild" .. 
.cherries  and  bring  them  in  for  iale.  The  Hudfon's  Bay  people 
make  an  excellent  beverage  of  them,  which  is  grateful  to  the 
tafte,  and  is  an  excellent  antifcorbutic.  Raipberries,  fkrawberries, 
currants,  cranberries,  and  an  infinity  of  other  kinds  are  to  be 
found  every  where.  So  that  a  perion,  without  the  help  of  ait^mu^ 
nition,  may  in  the  fumrner  feaion  procure  a  very  comfortable 
fubfiilence,  were  he  bewildered,  and  alone.  Should  any  one  be 
in  this  iituation,  almoft  every  pond  of  water  would  furnifli 
him  with  eggs  of  ducks,  &c.  apd  every  thicket  with  a  latiety 
of  delicious  fruit. 

The  eaftern  coan;  is  barren,  pad  the  efforts  of  cultivation.  The 
furface  is  every  Avhere  uneven,  and  covered  with  maffe's  of  ftone 
©f  an  amazing  fize.  It  is  a  country  of  -fruitlefs  and  fright;||*l 
mountains,  fome  of  an  aftoniflring  height*j  The  vallies  are  full  of 
lakes,  formed  not  from  iprings,  but  rain  ■jl'S^  inow,  lo  chilly  as  to 
be  produftive  of  a  few  fmall  trout  only.  The  mountains  have 
bere  and  there  a  blighted  flirub,  or  a  little  mofs.  The  vallies  are 
full  of  crooked,  flunted  trees,  pines,  fir,  birch,  and  cedars,  or 
rather  a  Ipecies  of  the  juniper.  In  latitude  60'*  on  this  coaft, 
vegetation  ceaies.  The  whole  fliore,  like  that  on  the  weft,  is 
faced  with  iflands  at  fomc  diftance  from  land, 

D  2 


2<5  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

T.hp  principal  rivers  which  water  this  cotintr)',  arc  the  Wager, 
Monk.  Seal,  Pockerekefko, Churchill,  Nelfon,  Hayes,  New  Severn, 
Albany,  and  Mooie  rivers,  all  which  empty  into  Hudfon's  and 
James  Bay  from  the  w?{t.  The  mculhs  of  all  the  nvers  are  filled 
with  ihoals,  except  Churchill's,  in  which  the  largeft  fliips  may  lie  ; 
but  ten  miles  higher  the  channel  is  obiLruQied  by  fand  banks.  All 
the  -rivers  as  far  as  they  have  been  explored,  are  full  of  rapids 
and  cataracls,  from  ten  to  fixfy  feet  perpendicular.  Down  thcfe 
rivers  the  Indian  traders  find  a  quick  paffage  ;  but  their  return  is 
a  labour  of  many  months. 

INHABITANTS,  QUSTOMS,  &c. 

The  inhabitants  jfmong  the  mountains  are  Indians  ;  along  the 
coafts,  ILfquimaux.  The  Hudfon's  Bay  Indians,  in  all  probability, 
were  originally  tall,  properly  proportioned,  ftrongly  made,  and  of 
'as  mmlv  an  appearance  as  any  people  whatever.  This,  however, . 
•was  before  their  commerce  with  Europeans  had  enervated  and  de- 
baied  their  minds  and  bodies,  by  introducing  fpirituous  liquors 
among  them,  and  habituating  them  to  fevere  couri'es  of  drinking. 
They  are  naturally  much  addifted  to  this  fatal  cuftom  ;  but  when 
'^-is  encouraged  and  enforced  by  thofe  who  call  themfelves  an  en- 
'•lighrened  people,  it  certainly  is  not  only  blameable,  but  highly 
qjiminal.  Were  common  fenfe  but  made  uie  of  to  direft  the  con- 
duft  of  thofe  who  are  benefited  by  the  trade  carried  on  with  the 
Indians,  fclf-intereit  and  good  policy  would  teach  them  to  difcou- 
rage,  as  much  as  poffible,  a  habit  fo  prejudicial  to  them,  and  fatally 
deftruflive  to  thefe  miferable  people.  They  are  generally  of  a 
benevolent  difpofition,  and  eafy  to  be  perfuaded  by  perfons  who 
.  underftand  their  language;  but  as  a  mofh  uncpnfcionablc  gain  is 
got  bv  trading  in  fpirits  with  llrem,  it  is  not  to  be  fuppoied  the 
faftors  will  ever  be  induced  to  put  a  flop  to  this  unchrillian  prac- 
tice. An  Indian  v/ill  barter  away  all  his  furs,  nay  even  leave  him- 
lelf  without  a  rag  to  cover  his  nakednefs,  in  exchange  for  that 
vile  unwhoiefume  ftufF,  called  Englifh  brandy.  If  by  fuch  ex- 
ceiTive  intoxication  they  only  irreparably  injured  their  own  con^^ 
ftitutions,  and  debilitated  their  race,  the  confequences,  though 
pernicious,  would  not  be  io  dreadful  as  they  ufually  are  ;  but 
during  their  intoxication  not  only  freili  auarrels  enfue,  old  gricv=. 
ances  are  alio  renewed,  and  dedth  is  frequciuly  the  conlequcnce 
of  former  bickerings,  which  but  for  this  llimulator  had  been, 
buried  in  oblivion. 

.  By  thii  diabolical  commerce  the  country  is  impoverished  of 
inhabitants,  the  trade  of  courfc  imperceptibly  declines,  and  this 
i;xtenuve  fettlement  is  in  a  great  meafurc  prevented  from  rIvalUng 
afjiany  of  our  other  foreign  (ifkablifiiments, 


N  E  W     B  R  I  T  A  I  N.  21 

The  natives  are  however  a  people  of  a  middle  fize,  of  a  cop- 
per complexion,  their  featiwes  regular  and  agreeable,  an^  fe\v 
diftorted  or  deformed  perCons  are  leen  among  them.  V/hen 
young  they  have  exceflive  large  bellies,  which  is  to  be  attributed 
to  the  enormous  quantity  of  food  they  devour  ;  but  as  they  grow 
towards  puberly  this  part  decreafes  to  a  common  fize.  Their 
conftitutions  are  (Irong  and  healthy,  and  their  diforders  few  ; 
the  chief  of  thefe  is  the  dyfentery,  and  a  violent  pairi  in  the 
-breaft,  which  the  Englilli  call  the  Country  Diflemper.  The 
latter  is  fuppofed  to  proceed  from  the  cold  air  being  drawn  into 
ihe  lungs  ;  which  impeding  the  veiTcls  from  fpreading  through- 
put that  organ,  hinders  the  circulation,  and  renders  refpiration 
extremely  painful  and  diilicult.  They  feldom  live  to  a  great  age, 
but  enjoy  all  tlieir  faculties  to  the  laft. 

In  their  difpofitions  they  are  mild,  affable,  and  good-natured, 
when  fober  ;  but  when  intoxicated  they  are  loft  to  every  focial 
quality,  anddifcover  the  greateft  propenfity  to  quarrelling,  theft, 
and  the  worft  of  vices.  V/hen  we  view  the  fair  fide  of  their 
charafters,  we  find  them  kind,  courteous,  and  benevolent  to 
each  other,  relieving  the  wants  and  neceiTities  of  their  diftreffed 
brethren  with  the  greateft  good-nature,  either  by  counfel,  food, 
or  cloathing.  The  good  eft'efts  of  this  excellent  difpofition  are 
frequently  experienced  by  themfelves  ;  for,  as  in  their  mode  of 
life  no  one  knows  how  foon  it  may  be  his  own  fate  to  be  reduced 
to  the  verge  of  extremity,  he  lecures  for  himfelf  a  return  of 
kindnefs,  fliould  he  experience  that  vicilTitude.  On  the  other 
1  hand  they  are  fly,  cunning,  and  artful  to  a  great  degree  ;  they 
glory  in  every  fpccics  of  furacity  and  artifice,  efpecially  when 
the  theft  or  deception  has  been  fo  w^ell  executed  as  to  efcape 
deteftion.  Their  love  to  their  ofisprings  is  carried  to  a  very 
gi'eat  height.  From  the  ftate  of  childhood  to  maturity  they  fel- 
dom or  never  correft  their  children,  allcdging  that  when  they 
grow  up  they  will  know  better  of  themielvcs.  Neither  is  this 
indulgence  made  a  bad  ufe  of  when  refleftion  fucceeds  the  irre- 
gularities of  youth  ;  on  the  contrary,  fentimcnts  of  reverence, 
gratitude,  and  love,  link  their  afFeftions  to  the  authors  of  their 
being  ;  and  they  fclJom  fail  to  give  the  utmoft  aftiftance  to  their 
aged  parents  whenever  their  imbecility  requires  it. 

With  refpeft  to  their  corporeal  abilities,  they  arc  almoft  with- 
out e>;ccption  great  v.nlkcrs  ;  they  patiently  endure  cold,  hunger, 
and  fatigue  ;  and  bear  all  misfortunes  with  admirable  fortitude 
and  refignation,  whic'i  ciiables  them  bravely  to  encounter  the 
profpeft  of  ill,  and  j  "■  idcrs  the  mind  fercne  under  the  prefTure 
oi    advcrfity.       As    t.'cir   countjy   abouutls   wu]j   innumerabrc 


S2  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION  OF 

herds  of  deer,  elks,  and  buffaloes,  they  frequently  make  great 
flaughter  among  them  ;  and  upon  theTe  occafions  they  have  no  rcr 
gard  to  futurity,  or  providing  for  an  unfuccefsful  day.  Whether 
they  happen  to  be  pining  under  the  grafp  of  pinching  neceffity, 
or  enjoying  themfelves  in  all  the  happinefs  of  health  and  plenty, 
they  kill  all  they  can,  having  an  incontrovertible  maxim  among 
them,  which  is,  "  the  more  they  kill,  the  more  they  have  to  kill  :'* 
and  this  opinion,  though  diametrically  oppofite  to  reafon  or  com- 
mon feriie,  is  as  pertinacioufly  held  by  them,  as  his  tenets  are  by 
the  moft  bigotted  enthufiaft.  Indeed,  they  too  frequcutly  ftnd  it 
to  their  coft  to  be  grounded  On  folly,  as  they  iometimes  iuffer  ex- 
treme hunger  through  it ;  nay,  many  have  been  ftarved  to  death, 
and  others  have  been  reduced  to  the  fad  neceffity  of  devouring 
their  own  offspring. 

As  a  great  part  of  the  Faftory  provifions  confifts  of  geefc  killed 
by  the  Indians,  the  Englifh  fupply  them  with  powder  and  fliot 
for  thisr  purpofe,  allowing  them  the  value  of  a  beaver  ikin  for 
cveiy  ten  geefe. they  kill ;  accordingly,  after  the  Indian  has  got 
this  fupply,  he  fets  off  from  his  tent  early  in  the  morning  into  the 
inarfhes,  where  he  fets  himfelf  down,  with  a  degree  of  patience 
difficult  to  be  imitated,  and  being  flieltered  by  a  few  willows, 
waits  for  the  geefe.  They  ffioot  them  flying,  and  are  fo  very  dex- 
terous at  this  fport,  that  a  good  hunter  will  kill,  in  times  of  plenty, 
fifty  or  fixty  in  a  day.  Few  Europeans  are  able  to  endure  cold, 
fatigue,  hunger,  or  adverfity  in  any  ffiape,  with  an  equal  degree 
of  magnanimity  and  compofure  to  that  which  is  familiar  to  the 
natives  of  this  countiy.  After  being  out  a  whole  day  on  a  hunt, 
expofed  to  the  bleakeft  winds  and  moft  penetrating  cold,  and  that 
without  the  lead  thing  to  latisfy  the  calls  of  nature,  an  Indian 
comes  home,  warms  himfelf  at  the  fire,  fmoaks  a  few  pipes  of  to- 
bacco, and  then  retires  to  reft,  as  calm  as  if  in  the  midft  of  plenty ; 
but  if  he  happens  to  have  a  family,  he  cannot  always  boaft  of  this 
equanimity ;  when  reduced  to  extremity,  his  afleftion  for  them 
predominates  over  his  philofophy,  if  it  might  be  fo  called,,  and  it 
gives  way  to  the  moft  pungent  lorrnw. 

A  belief  i;i  fome  over-ruling  invifible  power  bears  a  principal 
•fhare  in  the  charafter  of  thefe  unpoliflied  Indians.  By  this  he  is 
itiduced  to  impute  every  occurrence  of  his  life  to  fupernatural 
eaufes.  His  good  or  bad  liiccefs  in  hunting,  the  welfare  of  his 
friends  and  family,  his  duration  in  this  mortal  ftate,  &c.  all  depend 
upon  the  will  and  pleasure  of  ibme  inviiible  agent,  whom,  he  iup- 
pofes  to  prefide  over  all  his  undertakings^:  for  inftance,  one  man 
will  invoke  a  conipicuous   ftur.  another  a   v/olf,   one  a  bear,  and 


tJ  E  W    B  R  1  T  A  1  N.  23 

indther  a  particular  tree  ;  in  which  he  imagines  the  Great  Being 
refides,  and  influences  his  good  or  ill  fortune  in  this  life. 

The  religious  fentiments  of  thefe  people,  though  confufed,  are 
in  fome  refpefts  juft.  They  allow  that  there  is  a  good  Being,  and 
they  fometimes  fing  to  him  ;  but  not  out  of  fear  or  adoration,  for 
he  is  too  good,  they  fay,  to  hurt  them.  He  is  called  Kitch-c-man- 
e-to,  or  the  Great  Chief.  They  further  lay,  there  is  an  evil 
Being,  who  is  always  plaguing  them  ;  they  call  him  Whit-ti-cs» 
Of  him  they  are  very  much  in  fear,  and  leldom  eat  any  thing, 
or  drink  any  brandy,  without  throwing  fome  into  the  fire  for  IVhit- 
ti-co.  If  any  misfortune  befals  them,  they  fing  to  him,  imploring 
his  mercy ;  and  when  in  health  and  profpeiity  d©  the  fame,  to 
keep  him  in  good  humour.  Yet,  though  obfequious  fometimes, 
at  others  they  are  angry  with  him,  efpecially  when  in  liquor ; 
they  then  run  out  of  their  tents,  and  fire  their  guns  in  order  t© 
kill  him.  They  frequently  perfuadc  themfelves  that  they  fee 
his  track  in  the  mols  or  fnow,  and  he  is  generally  defcribed  in 
the  moft  hideous  forms.  They  believe  that  both  the  good  and  the 
bad  Being  have  many  iervants  ;  thole  of  the  former  inhabiting  the 
air,  but  thofe  of  the  latter  walking  on  the  earth.  They  have  like- 
wife  an  opinion  that  this  country  was  once  overflowed ;  an  opi- 
nion founded  on  meeting  with  many  fea  fhells  far  inland. 

They  have  no  manner  of  government  orfubordination.  The  fa- 
ther, or  head  of  a  family,  owns  no  fuperior,  nor  obeys  any  com- 
mand. He  gives  his  advice  or  opinion  of  things,  but  at  the  fame 
time  has  no  authority  to  enforce  obedience:  the  youth  of  his 
family  follow  his  direftions,  but  rather  from  filial  affeftion  or  re- 
verence, than  In  confequence  of  any  duty  exafted  by  a  fuperior. 
When  fevcral  tents  or  families  meet  to  go  to  war,  or  to  the  Fac- 
tories to  trade,  they  choofe  a  leader,  but  it  is  only  voluntary 
obedience  they  pay  to  the  leader  lo  chofen  ;  every  one  is  at  liber- 
ty to  leave  him  when  he  pleafes,  and  the  notion  of  a  commander 
is  quite  obliterated  as  foon  as  the  voyage  is  over.     Merit  alone 

GIVES  THE  TITLE  TO  DISTINCTION  ;  AND  THE  POSSESSION  OF 
QUALITIES   THAT  ARE   HELD     IN     ESTEEM    IS    THE    ONLY  WETH01> 

TO  OBTAIN  RESPECT.  Thus  a  pcrfon  who  is  an  experienced 
hunter  ;  one  who  knows  the  communication  between  the  lakes 
and  rivers  ;  one  who  can  make  long  harangues;  is  a  conjuror  j 
or  if  he  has  a  fatnily  ;  fuch  a  man  will  not  fail  of  being  followed 
by  leveral  Indians,  when  they  happen  to  be  out  in  large  parties  ; 
they  likcwife  follow  him  down  to  trade  at  the  fettlements  ;  he 
is,  however,  obli^,ed  to  fecure  their  attendance  upon  this 
occafion  by  promifes  and  rewards,  as  the  regard  paid  to  his 
abilities    is  of  too  weak   a   nature    to   command  fubjefiidn. — ■ 


34  GEN£RAL  DESCRIPTJO'N  OF 

In  war  a  mutual  refentment  agairrft  their  etieinies  forms  fLeir  unioft 
for  perpetrating  their  revenge.  Per/anal  courage,  patience  under 
hardJhtpSy  and  a  knozi.'icdge  of  the  manners  and  country  of  their  ad- 
verfaric.'!,  are  the  qualifications  fought  afitf  in  the  choice  of  a  I'ader. 
They  follow  him,  whom  they  have  thus  chofen,  with  fidelity,  and 
execute  his  piojefts  with  alacrity;  but  their  obedience  does  not 
proceed  from  any  right  in  the  leader  to  command,  tt  is  folcly 
founded  on  his  merit,  on  the  affeftion  of  his  followers,  and  their 
deft  re  of  fubduing  their  enemies.  Thcfe  fentiments  aftuate  every 
breaft,  and  augment  the  union,  while  in  more  civilized  nations 
fuch  a  compaft  is  effefted  by  a  flavjfh  fubmifiion  to  military  laws  ; 
for  as  the  ioldier  has  no  choice  in  his  commander,  it  frequently 
happens  that  neither  his  abilities  nor  his  charafter  are  calculated 
to  gain  tlicir  efteem. 

The  Indian's  method  of  dividing  the  time,  is  by  numbering 
the  nights  elapled,  or  to  come  ;  thus,  if  he  be  afl^ed  how  long 
he  has  been  on  his  journey,  he  will  anfwer,  "  f o  many  nights." 
From  tin's  nofturnal  divifion,  they  proceed  to  the  lunar  or 
monthly  divifion,  reckoning  thirteen  of  thefe  in  the  year,  all  of 
which  are  exprefllve  of  fome  remarkable  event  or  appearance, 
that  happens  during  that  revolution  of  the  moon. 

Their  method  of  computing  numbers  is  rather  abflrufe,  as  they 
reckon  chiefly  by  decades  ;  as  follows  : — Two  tens,  three  tens,  &c. 
Ten  tens,  or  an  hundred  tens.  A  few  units  over  or  under,  are 
added  or  fubflrafted.  Thus,  thirty-two  in  their  tongue  is  ex- 
preffed,  by  faying  three  tens  and  two  over, 

Thofe  Indians  of  whom  we  have  now  been  treating  and  of  whom 
the  Peltries  are  obtained,  are  known  by  the  following  names,  viz. 
The  Ne-Jteth-azv-a,  the  AJlnne-poeivc,  the  Fall,  the  Suffee,  the 
Black-feet,  the  Paegaii,  and  the  Blood-Indians.  Thefe  are  the 
only  Indians  with  which  tiie  Company  trade,  and  confcquently 
the  only  ones  whofe  manners,  cuftoms,   &c,  are  known. 

The  laudable  zeal  of  the  Moravian  clergy  induced  them,  in  the 
year  1752)  to  fend  mifTionaries  from  Greenland  to  this  country. 
Thev  fixed  on  Nelbit's  harbour  for  their  fettlement  ;  but  of  the 
firft  party,  fome  of  them  were  killed,  and  others  driven  away. 
In  1764,  under  the  proteftion  of  the  Britifli  government,  ano- 
ther attempt  was  made.  The  miffionaries  were  well  received  by 
tire  Elquimaux,  and  the  miffion  goes  on  with  fuccels. 

A  N  I  iM  A  L  S. 

The  animals  of  thefe  countries  are,  the  moofc  deer,  fl^gs,  rein 
deer,  bears,  tygers,  bulfaloes,  wolves,  foxes,  beavers,  otters, 
lynxes,  martins,  fquirrels,  ermines,  wild  cats,  and  hares.     The 


NEW    B  R  I  T  A  I  N,  25 

rein  deer  pafs  in  vaft  herds  towards  the  north  in  October,  fceking 
the  extreme  cold.  Tlie  mnle  polar  bears  rove  out  at  fea,  on  the 
floating  ice,  mod  of  the  winter,  and  till  June  ;  the  femnles  lie 
concealed  in  the  woods,  or  beneath  the  hanks  of  rivers,  till  March, 
when  they  come  abroad  with  their  twin  cubs,  and  bend  the>r 
courfe  to  the  fca  in  fearch  of  their  conlbrts.  Several  are  killed 
in  their  paffage  ;  and  thofe  that  are  wounded  fliow  vaft  fury,  roar 
hideoufly,  and  bite  and  throw  up  in  the  air  even  their  own  pro- 
geny. The  females  and  the  young,  when  not  interrupted,  con- 
tinue their  way  to  the  fea.  In  June  the  males  return  to  fliore, 
and  by  Augufh  are  joined  by  their  conforts,  with  their  cubs,  by 
that  time  of  a  confiderable  fize.  The  feathered  kindij  are,  geefe, 
buftards,  ducks,  growfe,  and  all  manner  of  wild  fowls.  Indeed 
multitudes  of  birds  retire  to  this  remote  country,  to  Labrador 
and  Newfoundland,  from  places  more  remotely  fouth,  perhaps 
from  the  Antilles  ;  -and  fome  even  of  the  moft  delicate  little  fpecies. 
Moft  of  them,  with  numbers  of  aquatic  fowls,  are  feen  returning 
fouthward  with  their  young  broods  to  more  favourable  climates. 
The  favagcs  in  fome  refpe£ls  regulate  their  months  by  the  appear- 
ance of  birds  ;  and  have  their  goofe-month,  from  the  vernal  ap- 
pearance of  gcefe,  from  the  fouth.  All  the  growfe  kind,  ravens, 
cinereous,  crows,  titmoufc,  and  Lapland  finch,  brave  the  fevereft 
winter  ;  and  feveral  of  the  falcons  and  owls  feek  fhelter  in  the 
woods.  Of  fifli,  there  are  whales,  morfes,  leals,  cod-fifh,  and  a 
white  fifh,  preferable  to  herrings ;  and  in  their  rivers  and  freflx 
waters,  pike,  perch,  carp,  and  trout. 

All  the  quadrupdeds  of  theie  countries  are  clothed  with  a  clofe, 
foft,  warm  fur.  In  lummer  there  is  here,  as  in  other  places,  a  va- 
riety in  the  colours  of  the  feveral  animals  ;  when  that  feafon  is 
over,  which  holds  only  for  three  months,  they  all  affume  the  li- 
very of  winter,  and  every  fort  of  beads,  and  mod  of  their  fowls, 
are  of  the  colour  of  the  Ihow  ;  every  thing  animate  and  inani- 
mate is  white.  This  is  a  furprifing  phenomenon.  But  what  is 
yet  more  furprifing,  and  whnt  is  indeed  one  of  the  mod  ftriking 
tilings,  that  draw  the  moft  inattentive  to  an  admiration  of  the 
wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  Providence,  is,  that  the  dogs  and  cats  from 
Britain  that  have  been  carried  into  Iludfon's  Bay,  on  the  approich 
of  winter  have  entirely  changed  then-  appearance,  and  acquired  a 
much  longer,  fofter,  and  thicker  coat  of  hair  than  they  had 
originally. 

DISCOVERY  AND  COMMERCE. 
The  knowledge  of  thefe  northern  feas  and  countries  v/as  owing 
to  a  projeft  ftartcd  in  England  for  the  difcovery  of  a  horth-wcft 

E 


«6  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION   01 

paflage  to  Cliina  and  the  Eaft-Indies,  as  early  as  the  year  1576. 
Since  then  it  has  been  frequently  dropped  and  as  off.en  I'evived, 
but  never  yet  compleated  ;  and  from  the  late  voyages  of  difcovery 
it  feems  probable,  that  no  prafticable  palT.igc  ever  can  be  found, 
Forbin:ier  difcovered  the  Main  of  New  Britain,  of  Terra  de  Labra- 
dor, and  tliole  Hieights  to  which  he  has  given  his  name.  In  1585, 
John  Davis  failed  fronn  Fortfmouth,  and  viewed  that  and  the  more 
northern  conlls,  but  he  feems  never  to  have  entered  the  bay. 
Captain  Hudfon  made  three  voyages  on  the  fame  adventure,  the 
firft  in  1607,  ibe  (econd  in  1608,  and  his  thiid  and  laft  in  i6io. 
This  bold  and  judicious  navigator  entered  the  flreights  that  lead 
into  the  bny  kno\¥n  by  his  name,  coafted  a  great  part  of  it,  and 
penetrated  to  eighty  degrees  atid  a  half,  into  the  heart  of  the 
frozen  zone.  His  ardour  for  the  difcovery  not  being  abated  by 
the  difficuliies  ];e  ftruggled  with  in  this  empire  of  winter,  and 
v/orld  of  froft  and  (now,  he  fliycd  here  until  the  eniuing  fpiing, 
and  prepared,  in  the  beginning  of  1611,  to  purfue  his  difcove- 
ries  ;  but  his  crcvv^,  who  fuifered  equal  hardfliips,  without  ths 
fame  fpirit  to  fuoport  them,  mutinied,  feized  upon  him  and 
feven  of  thnfe  who  were  moft  faithful  to  him,  and  committed 
them  to  the  fury  of  the  icy  feas  in  an  open  boat.  Hudfon  and 
his  companions  were  either  fwallowed  up  by  the  waves,  or  gain- 
ing tJie  inhofpitable  coaft,  were  deftroyed  by  the  lavages  ;  but 
the  fliip  and  the  reft  of  the  men  returned  home. 

Other  attempts  towards  a  dilcovery  were  made  in  1612  and 
iGS'j  ;  and  a  patent  for  planting  the  country,  with  a  charter  for 
a  company,  was  obtained  in  the  year  1670.  In  1646,  Captain 
Eilis  wintered  as  far  north  as  57  degrees  and  a  half,  and  Captain 
Chriftopher  attempted  farther  difcovcries  in  1661.  But  beilJes 
thefe  voyages,  we  are  indebted  to  the  Hudfon's  Bay  Company 
for  a  journey  by  land  ;  whicli  throws  much  additional  light  on 
this  matter,  by  ai^ording  what  may  be  called  deraonllration,  how 
much  farther  North,  at  lead  In  fome  parts  of  their  voyage,  fliips 
mufb  go,  before  they  can  pafs  from  one  fide  of  America  to  the 
other.  The  northern  Indians,  who  came  down  to  the  Compa- 
ny's fa£lories  to  trade,  had  brought  to  their  knowledge  a  river, 
which,  on  account  of  much  copper  being  found  near  it,  had  ob- 
tained tiie  name  of  the  Copper  Mine  river.  The  Company 
being  defirous  of  examining  into  this  matter  with  prrcifion,  di" 
reeled  Mr.  Hearne,  a  young  gentleman  in  their  fervice,  and 
who  having  been  brought  up  for  the  navy,  and  ferved  in  it 
the  war  before  lafl,  was  extremely  well  qualified  for  the  purpofe 
to  proceed  over  land,  under  the  convoy  of  thofe  Indians,  for 
tjiat  river  ;  which  he  had  orders  to  furvey,  if  poffible,  quite 
down  to    its   exit   into  the  fea ;  to    make  oblcrvations  for  fixing 


NEW    B  R  I  T  A  1  N.  £7 

l\it  latitudes  and  longitudes;  and  to  bring  hoaie  mips  and  draw- 
ings, both  of  it  and  the  countries  through  which  he  fliould  pa[t«, 

Accordingly  Mr.  Hearne  fet  out  fiom  Prince  of  Wales's 
Fort,  on  Churchill  river,  latitude  58°  47V  north,  and  longi- 
tude  94*^  n\f  weft  from  Greenwich,  on  the  -yth  of  Decemoer, 
1770.  Mr.  Hearne  on  the  13th  of  July  reached  the  Copper 
Mine  river,  and  found  it  all  the  way,  even  to  its  exit  into  the 
Tea,  incumbered  with  Ihoals  and  falls,  and  emptying  itfelf  into 
it  over  a  dry  flat  of  the  fhore,  the  tide  being  then  out,  which 
feemed,  by  the  edges  c*f  the  ice,  to  rife  about  twelve  or  four- 
teen feet.  This  rife,  on  account  of  tlie  falh,  will  carry  it  but 
a  very  fmall  way  within  the  river's  mouth,  fo  that  the  water  ia 
it  has  not  the  lead  brackifli  tafte.  Mr.  Hearne  is,  neverthelcis, 
fure  of  the  place  it  emptied  itfelf  into  being  the  iea,  or  a  branch 
of  it,  by  the  quantity  of  whalebone  and  ieal  Ikins  which  the 
Efquimaux  had  at  their  tents  ;  and  alfo  by  the  number  of  fcals 
which  he  faw  upon  the  ice.  The  fea,  at  the  river'b  mouth,  was 
full  of  iflands  and  fhoals,  as  far  as  he  could  fee,  by  the  aJliftance 
of  a  pocket  telefcope  :  and  the  ice  was  not  then  (J«aly  17'h) 
broke  up,  but  thawed  away  only  for  about  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  from  the  fliore,  and  for  a  little  way  round  the  ifiand  and 
fhoals  which  lay  off  the  river's  mouth.  But  he  had  the  moft: 
extenfive  view  of  the  fea  when  he  was  about  eight  miles  up  the 
river,  from  M'hich  fiation  the  extreme  parts  of  it  bore  N.  M''. 
by  W.  and  N.  E. 

By  the  time  Mr.  Hearne  had  finifhed  his  furvey  of  the  river, 
which  was  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  on  the  18th,  ther« 
came  on  a  very  thick  fog  and  drizzling  rain  ;  and  as  he  had 
found  the  river  and  fea,  in  every  relpecl  unlikely  to  be  of  any 
utility,  he  thougiit  it  unnecelTary  to  wait  for  fair  weather,  to 
determine  the  latitude  more  exaftly  by  obfervation  :  but  by  the 
extraordinary  care  he  took  in  oblerving  the  courfes  and  diftances, 
walking  from  Cotigecathawhachaga,  where  he  had  two  very  good 
obfervations,  he  thinks  the  latitude  may  be  depended  on  within 
30'  at  the  utmoft.  It  appears  from  the  map  which  Mr.  Hearne 
conftrufted  of  this  fingular  journey,  that  the  mouth  of  the 
Copper  Mine  river  lies  in  latitude  72*^  N.  and  longitude  2.^^  W. 
from  Churchill  river  ;  that  is,  about  119^  W.  of  Greenwich. 
Mr,  Hearne's  journey  back  from  the  Copper  Mine  river  to 
Churchill,  Lifted  till  June  30th,  1772;  fo  that  he  was  abfent 
aimoft  a  year  and  feven  months.  The  unparalleled  hardfliips  he 
luffered,  and  the  efTential  fervicc  he  perfiirmed,  have  met  with 
a  fuitable  reward  from  his  mafters.  He  has  been  feveral  vears 
governor  of  Prince  of  Wales's  Fort  on  Churchill  river,  where 
^c  Vv-as  taken  prifoner  by  the  French  in  1782. 


fi8  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

Though  the'  adventurers  failed  in  the  original  purpofe  for 
which  they  navigated  this  bay,  their  projeft,  even  in  its  failure, 
has  been  of  advantage  to  England.  The  vaft  countries  which 
furround  Hndfua's  Bay,  as  we  have  already  ob(erved,  abound 
with  animals,  whofe  fur  and  fkins  are  excellent.  In  1670,  a 
charter  was  granted  to  a  company,  which  at  prefent  confill  of 
only  fcven  perions,  for  the  exclufive  trade  to  this  bay,  and  they 
have  aftcd  under  it  ever  hnce  M'ith  great  benefit  10  the  privaie 
men  who  compofe  the  company,  though  comparatively  with  lit- 
tle advantage  to  Great-Britain. 

Prince  Rupert  was  their  firfh  Governor;  the  Duke  of  Albe- 
marle, Lord  Craven,  Lord  Arlington,  and  leveial  other  noble 
"perionages,  conflituted  the  firfl  committee.  The  tenor  of  ^heir 
charter  is  as  full,  ample,  and  comprehenlive,  as  words  can  well 
make  it ;  and,  as  if  they  fufpctlcd  the  intrufion  of  fome  adven- 
turers on  tlieir  territories,  to  participate  in  this  valuable  trade, 
the  moft  fevere  penalties,  with  forfeiture  of  property,  are  laid 
on  all  thofe,  who  fhall  haunt,  frequent,  or  trade  upon  their 
coaAs  ;'  how  far  their  iuccelfors  have  been  entitled  to  theie  ex- 
clufive immunities,  or  how  far  their  confined  manner  of  carry- 
ing on  the  trade  has  proved  beneficial  to  the  countr),  we  fliall 
endeavour  to  point  out. 

The-  firft  traders  to  thefe  parts  afted  upon  principles  much 
UTore  laudable  and  benevolent,  than  their  luccefTors  fecm  to  have 
been  aftuated  by.  They  appear  to  have  had  the  good  of  the 
country  at  heart  ;  and  to  have  endeavoured  by  every  equitable 
means,  to  render  their  commerce  profitable  to  the  mother  coun- 
try. Their  inftrutlions  to  their  faftors  were  full  of  fentiments 
of  Chriftianity,  and  contained  dircftions  for  their  ivfing  every 
means  in  their  power,  to  reclaim  the  uncivilized  Indians  from 
a  flatc  of  barbarilm,  and  to  incidcate  in  their  rude  ininds  the 
husnane  precepts  of  the  golpcl.  They  were  at  the  fame  time 
admonifhed  to  trade  with  them  equitably,  and  to  take  no  advan- 
tage of  their  native  funphcity.  They  were  further  inftrucled  to 
explore  the  country,  and  to  reap  fuch  benefit  from 'the  loil  and 
produce  thereof,  as  might  rcdovuid  to  the  inteiefi:  of  the  Eu- 
glifh  nation,  as  wdl  as  contribute  to  their  own  emolum.ent. 
A'nd  la^ftly,  they  were  directed  to  be  particularly  careful  in 
feeing  that  the  European  fcrvants  behaved  orderly,  and  lived  in 
fobriety  and  temperance,  obfcrving  a  proper  veneration  for  the 
ffeSrVriH^df'  God,  which  was  ordered  to  be  collcftively  performed 
it  dVeiy  fealoirablc  opj^ortunity. 

Thefe  were  iujunftiors  worthy  tlie  exalted  flations  and  rank 
in  life'bf  thofc  who  had  the  firft  direction  of  the  afitairs  of  the 
Company  f  ^nd  rcflcdcd  much   honour  on  their  charafters,  as 


NEW  BRITAIN,  29 

men  and  chrlflians :  and  had  thefe  piaile-vvorlhy  eftablifliments 
been  adhered  to,  the  country  granted  them  might  at  this  day 
have  been  a  ^eal  advantage  to  Great-Britain.  But  ihflead  of 
encouraging  the  'trade,  by  a  mild,  equitable,  and  engaging  de- 
portment towards  the  natives  ; — inlleyd  of  ingratiating  them- 
lelvcs  by  affability  and  condeicenfion  with  a  harmlefs  people,  the 
Hudfon's  Bay  Company  ule  them  with  undeicrved  rigour,  cauf- 
ing  them  frequently  to  be  beat  and  maltreated,  although  they 
have  come  Come  hundreds  of  miles  in  order  to  barter  their  fkins, 
and  procure  a  few  neceflarles  to  guard  again  ft  the  fe  verity  of  the 
approaching  winter  :  owing  to  this  conduft  the  trade  has  mate- 
rially declined  of  late  years. 

Another  reaion  why  the  Company's  trade  has  declined,  is  4 
want  of'lpirit  in  themfelves,  to  pufh  it  on  with  that  vigour  the 
importance  of  the  contefl  deferves.  The  merchants  from 
Canada  have  been  heard  to  acknowledge,  that  was  the  Hudfon's 
Bay  Company  to  prolecute  their  inland  trade  in  a  fpirited  man- 
ner, they  muft  be  foon  obliged, to  give  up  all  thoughts  of  pene- 
trating into  the  country  ;  as  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Company's 
faftories  to  the  inland  parts,  they  can  afford  to  underfell  them 
in  every  branch. 

To  explain  this  emulation  between  the  company  and  the 
Canadian  traders,  it  will  be  neceffaiy  to  review  the  ftate  of  the 
Company  in  the  year  1773.  About  that  time  the  Canadian 
traders  from  Montreal,  actuated  by  a  laudable  fpirit  of  induftry 
and  adventure,  and  experiencing  the  pecuniary  advantages  that 
refulted  from  their  exertions,  had  become  fo  numerous  and  in- 
defatigable at  the  head  of  the  rivers  which  lead  to  the  Company'^ 
fettlements,  that  the  trade  of  the  latter  was  in  a  great  meafure 
cut  off  from  its  ufual  channel.  The  Indians  being  lupplied  with 
every  thing  they  could  wilh  for  at  their  own  doors,  had  no 
longer  occaiion,  as  they  hitherto  had  done,  to  build  canoes,  and 
paddle  feveraLhundred  miles,  for  the  fake  of  cultivating  a  com- 
merce with  the  Company  ;  in  which  peregrination  they  were 
frequently  expofed  to  much  danger  from  hunger  ;  fo  much  fo, 
that  at  one  time  leven  canoes  of  upland  Indians  perifhed  on 
their  return  to  their  own  country. 

Ever  fince  the  above  period,  the  Canadian  adventurers  have 
annually  increafed  in  the  upland  country,  much  to  their  own 
emolument,  and  the  great  lofs  of  the  Company:  who,  it 
may  be  faid,  are  fleeping  at  the  edge  of  the  fea,  without  fpirit, 
and  without  vigour  or  inclination  to  affert  that  right,  which  their 
exclufive  charter,  according  to  their  ozvn  account,  entitles  them  to. 

It  is  true,  the  Hudfon's  Bay  Company  have  at  this  time  a  few 
cflablifl:iments  in  the  interior  countrv ;  but  thefe  arc  carried  on 


30  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

in  fuch  a  languid  manner,  that  their  exertions  have  hitherto 
proved  inadeq^uate  to  the  purpofe  of  fupplanting  their  oppo- 
nents. 

The  Company  fignify  to  their  Faftors,  that  they  have  an  in- 
diiputable  light  to  all  the  territories  about  Hudfon's  Bay,  not 
only  including  the  Straits  and  Bay,  with  all  the  rivers,  inlets, 
&c.  therein,  but  likewife  to  all  the  countries,  lakes,  &c.  inde- 
finitely to  the  weftvvard,  explored  and  unexplored.  They 
therefore  ftigmatize  the  Canadian  merchants  with  the  infulting 
epithets  of  pedlars,  thie\»es,  and  interlopers  ;  though  the  quan- 
tity of  furs  imported  by  themlelves,  bears  no  comparilon  to 
thofe  fent  from  Canada.  If  this  unbounded  claim,  to  which 
they  pretend,  be  founded  upon  juflice,  wliy,  in  the  name  of 
equity  do  ihey  not  affert  thefe  pretenfions  by  a  proper  applica- 
tion to  the  Britifli  Parliament  to  remove  the  induftrlous  pedlars, 
whom  they  would  feem  to  look  upon  with  iuch  ineffable  con- 
tempt, and  prevent  their  any  longer  encroaching  on  their  ter- 
ritories ;  but  the  fhock  they  received  from  the  parliamentary 
application  of  th,e  patriotic  Mr.  Dobbs,  in  the  year  1749,  has 
given  them  a  diffcafte  to  parliamentary  inquiries  They  know 
the  weaknefs  of  their  claim,  and  the  inftability  of  their  preten- 
fions;  it  is  therefore  their  interell  to  hide  from  an  inquifitive 
but  deluded  nation,  every  invefligation  which  might  tend  to 
bring  to  light  the  futility  of  their  proceedings. 

If  the  Canadian  traders  can  adduce  any  profit  to  themfelves 
by  profecuting  this  inland  bufinefs,  what  are  not  the  Hudfon's 
Bay  Company  enabled  to  do,  with  every  advantage  on  their  fide, 
would  they  profecute  the  trade  with  vigour  ? 

York  Fort  at  this  time  has  four  fubordinate  fettlements  ;  at 
which  fettlements,  conjointly,  the  Company  allow  one  hundred 
iervants,  whofe  wages  amount  to  about  one  thouiand  eight  hun- 
dred and  iixty  pounds  per  annum  ;  befides  a  floop  of  fixty  tons, 
that  makes  a  voyage  once  a  year  between  York  Fort  and  Severn 
Faftories.  In  the  year  1748,  the  complement  of  men  at  that 
fetttlement  was  no  more  th-m  twenty-five,  whofe  wages  amounted 
to  four  hundred  and  feventy  pounds  per  annum,  and  the  trade 
then  flood  at  thiity  thoufand  fkins  one  year  with  another.  The 
other  eftablifiimcnts  which  the  Company  maintain  in  the  Bay, 
have  iulfered  the  like  proportional  change,  all  decreafing  in  trade, 
and  bearing  additional  incumbrances. 

To  exhibit  at  one  view  a  ftate  of  their  feveral  eflablifliments 
in  the  Bay  at  prclcnt,  the  following  table  is  fubjoined. 


NEW    B  R  I  T  A  I  iV, 


31 


TABLE. 


Settlements. 

Slfuj 
La   N. 

t  ion . 
Lo.  W. 

'Jrade     on 
Average. 
Skins. 
10  000 

1  25,000 

5,600 

>      7.000 

-d  ^ 

4 
2 

2 

Ships  cou- 
ligned  to. 

6loops  inthe 
Country. 

N'o.i 
Servj 

100 

40 
25 

Churchill 
York  Fort        1 
Severn  Houfe  J 
Albany  Fort 
Moofe  Fort      "^ 
Eaftmain          j 

59    o 

57  ^o 
56  12 

5218 

51  28 

53  24 

94  30 
93  00 

B857 
8518 

83  »5 
78  50 

(lup.      tons. 
1  of 250 

1  I  of 2^0 
.  I  of 280 

fhip.      tons. 

I  of  70 
j.i  of  60 

1  of  70 
I  of  70 

47,600 

3  —  780'        4—270 

240 

The  following  is  the  ftandardof  trade,  by  which  the  Governor 
or  Fa6lor,  is  ordered  by  the  Company  to  trade  with  the  natives.* 


Bcav, 

Beav. 

Glafs  beads 

lb. 

1  as    2 

Orrice  lace 

yd 

i| 

a:>  1 

China  ditto 

1       6 

Brafs  rings 

No 

3 

Brafs  kettles 

^        ^i 

Files 

1 

Coarfe  cloth 

yd.    1 

^        3 

Tobacco  boxes 

1 

Blankets 

No. 

1        7 

Awl  blades 

8 

Tobacco  Brazil 

lb. 

f       1 

Box  barrels 

3 

Ditto  leaf 

1        I 

Hawks  bells 

pr. 

12 

Ditto  Eng.  roll 

1        1 

Sword  blades 

No, 

1 

Check  ihirts 

No.    , 

I        2 

Ice  chiffels 

1 

White  ditto 

I        2 

Gun  worms 

4 

Yarn  (lockings 

pr. 

t        2 

Coarfe  hats 

1 

Powder 

lb. 

I        I 

Small  leather 

trunks 

1 

Shot 

i 

[       1 

Needles 

1  2 

Duffels 

yd. 

L             2 

Hatchets 

1 

Knives 

No.   . 

t             1 

Brandy 

gall. 

1 

Guns 

I          14 

Medals 

No. 

1  2 

Combs 

1 

1 

Thimbles 

6 

Flints 

i( 

3            1 

Brafs  collars 

1 

Vermillion 

lb.    3 

16 

Fire  fteels 

3 

Piftols 

No.    1 

7 

Razors 

a. 

Small  burning  o] 
0  0 

alfes       ] 

1 

Thread 

lb. 

1 

Gartering 

yd.    t 

i    ^ 

A 


*  This  is  intended  to  keep  up  the  appearance  of  a  regular  fettled  plan  of 
trade;  b.ut  thongh  this  farce  may  be  played  oft  to  thoic  who  have  not  had 
the  opportunities  of  knowing  the  deception,  it  will  not  h»\s  that  cffcfl  upftn 
a  perfon  any  ■(vay  acquainted  with  the  bufincfs. 


32  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION^    OF 

Notvvithftanding  this  pretended  ftandard  is  in  itfelf  fufficicnt- 
ly  hard  upon  the  Indians,  and  dilcouraging  to  the  trade,  yet  the 
faftors,  and'  the  company,  in  conjunftion.  do  not  think  it  fo  ; 
for  out  of  this  a  pernicious  overplus  trade  muft  he  raifed  ;  ^\'h^ch. 
as  Mr,  Robfon  juftly  obferves,  "  is  big  with  iniquity,  wnd  (Irik- 
ing  at  the  very  root  of  their  trade  as  a  chartered  company  :"  it 
is  intended  to  augment  the  emoluments  of  the  gevernor,  at  the 
cxpenfe  of  jufticeand  common  honefly  :  it  oppreffes  the  Indian 
who  lives  a  mod  wretched  life,  and  encounters  a  variety  of  dif- 
ficulties, cold,  hunger,  and  fatigue,  to  procure  a  few  neceffaries 
for  himfelf  and  indigent  family. 

This  overplus  trade,  as  it  is  called,  is  carried  on  in  the  fol- 
lowing m.anner;  for  inftance  ;  fuppofe  an  Indian  would  trade 
one  pound  of  glafs  beads,  it  is  fet  down  in  the  flandard  at  two 
beaver  fkins  ;  but  the  confcientious  faftor  will  demand  three, 
or  perhaps  four  beaver  fkins  for  it  ;  if  the  Indian  alks  for  a 
blanket,  he  muft  pay  eight  beavers  ;  and  if  he  vwould  purchafe 
a  gallon  of  brandy,  he  muft  give  after  the  rate  of  eight  beaver 
fkins  for  it,  as  it  is  always  one  half,  and  fometimes  two-thirds 
water.  The  confequence  of  this  griping  >vay  of  trade  is  in  the 
end  very  hurtful  to  themfelves,  as  the  Canadians,  in  the  inte- 
rior country,    underfell    them  in  every  article. 

Before  the  Canadian  merchants  purfued  the  fur  trade  with 
fuch  diligence  as  they  now  do  through  the  lakes,  and  had  pene- 
trated into  the  interior  parts  of  Hudlbn's  Bay,  a  great  number  of 
Indians  ufed  annually  to  come  dov/n  to  the  company's  lettle- 
ments  to  barter  their  fkins.  And  though  the  company  have 
now  in  a  great  mealure  loft  the  benefit  of  this  lucrative  traffic, 
it  may  not  be  amifs  to  mention  the  manner  in  which  Indians 
prolecute  their  voyages  to  the  faftories. 

In  the  month  of  March,  the  upland  Indians  aftemble  on  the 
banks  of  a  particular  river  or  lake,  the  nomination  of  which 
had  been  agreed  on  by  common  confcnt,  before  they  feparatcd 
for  the  winter.  Here  they  begin  to  build  their  canoej;,  which, 
are  generally  completed  very  foon  after  the  river  ice  breaks. 
.They  then  commence  their  voyage,  but  without  any  regularity, 
ail  ftriving  to  be  foremoft  ;  becaufe  thofe  who  are  firft  have  the 
beft  chance  of  procuring  food.  During  the  voyage,  each  leader 
canvaffes,  with  all  manner  of  art  and  diligence,  for  people  to  join 
his  gang  ;  influencing  fome  by  prefents,  and  otiiers  by  promifes  ; 
for  the  more  canoes  he  has  under  his  command,  the  greater  he 
appears  at  the  faftory. 

Being  come  near  their  journey's  end.  they  all  put  alhore;  the 
women  to  go  in  the  woods  to  gather  pine-brufli  for  the  bottoms 


I^  E  W    B  R  I  T  A  I  N,  33 

pf  the  tents ;  while  the  leaders  fnioke  together,  and  regulate  the 
proceffion.  This  being  fettled,  they  re-evnbark,;  and  foon  after 
arrive  at  the  faftory.  If  there  is  but  one  captain^  ^is  H'tuat^ipi^ 
is  in  the  center  of  the  canoes  ;  if.  more,  they  place  themfelves 
on  the  wings ;  and  their  canoes  are  diftinguifhed  by  having  a 
fmall  flag  haifted  on  a  ftick,  and  placed  in  the  ftern. 

When  they  arrive  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  fort, 
they  difcharge  their  fowling-pieces,  to  compliment  the  Englifh  ; 
who,  in  return,  falute  them  by  firing  two  or  three  fmall  dan- 
non.  The  leaders  leldom  concern  themfelves  with  taking  out 
the  bundles,  but  the  other  men  will  affift  the  women.  T!  .  fac- 
tor being  informed  that  the  Indians  are  arrived,  fends  the  trader 
to  introduce  the  leaders  with  their  lieutenants,  who  are  ufually 
their  eldeft  fons  or  neareft  relations.  Chairs  are  placed  for  them 
to  fit  down  on,  and  pipes,  &c.  are  introduced.  During  the 
time  the  leader  is  fmoking,  he  fays  very  little,  but  as  foon  as 
this  is  over,  he  begins  to  be  more  talkative  ;  and  fixing  his  eyes 
immoveably  on  the  ground,  he  tells  the  faftor  how  many  canoes 
he  has  brought,  what  Indians  he  has  feen,  afks  how  the  Eng- 
lifhmen  do,  and  fays  he  is  glad  to  fee  them.  After  this  the 
governor  bids  him  welcome,  tells  him  he  has  good  goods  and 
plenty,  and  that  he  loves  the  Indians,  and  will  be  kind  to  them. 
The  pipe  is  by  this  time  removed,  and  the  converfation  becomes 
free. 

Duri-ng  this  vifit,  the  chief  is  drefl;  out  at  the  expenfe  of  the 
faftory  in  the  following  manner  :  a  coarfe  cloth  coat,  either  red 
or  blue,  lined  with  baize,  and  having  regimental  cufFs  ;  and  a 
waiflcoat  and  breeches  of  baize,  the  whole  ornamented  w;th 
orris  lace.  He  is  alfo  prefented  with  a  white  or  check  fliirt ; 
his  {lockings  are  of  yarn,  one  of  them  red,  the  other  blue,  and 
tied  below  the  knee  with  worfled  garfers  ;  his  Indian  -fhoes  arc 
fometimes  put  on,  but  he  frequently  walks  in  his  ftocking  feet ; 
his  hat  is  coarfe,  and  bedecked  with  three  oftrich  feathers  of 
various  colours,  and  a  worfted  fafh  tied  round  the  crown  ;  a 
fmall  filk  handkerchief  is  tied  round  his  neck,  and  this  com- 
pletes, his  drefs.  The  lieutenant  is  alfo  prefented  with  a  coat, 
but  it  has  no  lining;  he  is  likewife  provided  with  a  fliirt  and 
cap,    not  unlike  thofe  worn  by  mariners. 

The  guefts  being  now  equipped,  bread  and  prunes  are  brought 
and  fet  before  the  captain,  of  which  he  takes  care  to  fill  his 
pockets,  before  they  are  carried  out  to  be  fhared  in  his  tent  ;  a 
two  gallon  keg  of  brandy,  with  pipes  and  tobacco  for  himfelf 
and  followers,  are  likewife  fet  before  him.  He  is  now  jpondufted 
from- the  fort  to  his  tent  in  the  following  manner  :..  In  the  fron^ 

F 


34  QL\'ERAL    DESCRIPTION  0^ 

a  halberd  and  enfign  are  carried ;  next  a  drummer  beating  a  marcli ; 
then  feveral  of  the  faftory  fervants  bearing  the  bread,  prunes, 
pipes,  tobacco,  br;indy,  &c.  Then  comes  the  captain,  walking 
quite  ereft  and  ftately,  {moking  his  pipe,  and  convcrfing  with 
the  faftur.  After  tliis  follows  the  lieutenant,  or  any  other  friend, 
who  had  been  admitted  into  the  fort  with  the  leader.  They  find 
the  tent  ready  for  their  reception,  and  with  clean  pine-brufh  and 
beaver  coats  placed  for  them  to  fit  on.  Here  the  brandy,  &c.  i* 
depofited,  and  the  chief  gives  orders  to  fome  refpeftable  perlon 
to  make  the  ufual  diflribution  to  his  comrades.  After  this  the 
faftor  takes  his  leave,  and  it  is  not  long  before  they  are  all  intoxi- 
c.ited  ;  when  they  give  loofe  to  every  fpecies  of  difordcrly  tu- 
mult, fuch  as  fingirig,  crying,  fighting,  dancing,  &c.  and  fifty 
to  one  but  fome  one  is  killed  before  the  morniijg.  Such  are  the 
fad  efFcfts  of  the  vile  compofition  they  are  furnifhed  with,  upon 
thele  occafions. 

After  continuing  in  a  ftate  of  intoxication,  bordering  on  mad- 
tjels,  for  two  or  three  days,  their  mental  faculties  return  by  de* 
grecs,  and  they  prepare  themfelves  for  renewing  the  league  of 
friendfliip,  by  fmoking  the  calimut  ;  the  ceremony  of  which  is 
as  follows  ;  A  pipe  made  of  ftone  is  filled  with  Brazil  tobacco, 
mixed  with  a  herb  foniething  like  European  box.  The  ftem  of 
the  pipfe  is  three  or  four  feet  long,  and  decorated  with  various 
pieces  of  lace,  bears  claws,  and  eagles  talons,  and  likewile  with 
variegated  feathers,  the  fpoils  of  the  moll  beauteous  of  the  fea- 
thered tribe.  The  pipe  being  fixed  to  the  fhem  and  lighted,  tha 
faftor  takes  it  in  both  his  hands,  and  with  much  gravity  rifes  from 
his  chair,  and  points  the  end  of  the  flem  to  the  Eaft,  or  fun-rifoj 
then  to  the  Zenith,  afterwards  to  the  Weft,  and  then  perpendi- 
cularly down  to  the  Nadir.  After  this  he  takes  three  or  four 
hearty  whiffs,  and  having  done  fo,  prefents  it  to  the  Indian 
leader,  from  whorri  it  is  carried  round  to  the  whole  part)',  the 
women  excepted,  who  are  not  permitted  to  fmoke  out  of  the 
facred  pipe.  When  it  is  entirely  fmoakedout,-  the  faftor  takes  it 
agiin,  and  having  twirled  it  three  or  four  times  over  his  head^ 
lays  it  deliberately  on  the  table  ;  which  being  done,  all  the 
Indians  return  him  thanks  by  a  kind  of  fighing  out  the  word 
Ho. 

Though  the  above  ceremony  made  ufe  of  by  the  Indians,  in 
fmoking  tlie  calimut,  may  appear  extremely  ridiculous  and  incom- 
prchcnfiblc,  yet,-  when  we  are  made  acquainted  with  their  ideas 
in  this  refpeft^  the  apparent  abfurdity  of  the  cuftom  will  vanifh. 
By  this  ceremony  they  mean  to  fignify  to  all  perfons  concerned, 


N  £  IV   B  R  I  T  A  I  X.  35 

th&t  whilfl  tlie  (un  fhall  vifit  the  dlflFerent  parts  of  the  world,  and 
make  day  and  night  ;  peace,  firm  friendfhip,  and  brotherly  love, 
(hall  be  eftabllfhed  between  the  Englilh  and  their  country,  and 
the  fame  on  their  part.  By  twirling  the  pipe  over  the  head,  they 
further  intend  to  imply,  that  all  perfons  of  the  two  nations, 
wherefoever  they  may  be,  fhall  be  included  in  the  friendlhip 
and  brotherhood  now  concluded  or  renewed. 

After  this  ceremony  is  over,  and  a  further  gratification  of 
bread,  prunes,  &c.  is  prefented,  the  leader  makes  a  fpeech, 
generally  to  the  following  purport  : 

"  You  .told  me  laft  year  to  bring  many  Indians  to  trade, 
which  I  proraifed  to  do  ;  you  fee  I  have  not  lied  ;  here  are  a 
great  many  young  men  come  with  me  ;  uie  them  kindly,  I  fay  ; 
let  them  trade  good  goods.;  let  them  trade  good  goods,  I  (l;y  ! 
We  lived  hard  lafl  winter  and  iiungry,  the  powder  being  fhoi  t 
meafure  and  bad;  being  fhort  meaiure  and  bad,  I  fay!  Tell 
yor.r  fervants  to  fill  the  meafure,  and  not  to  put  their  thumbs 
within  the  brim  ;  take  pity  on  ui,  take  pity  on  us,  I  fay  !  We 
paddle  a  long  way  to  fee  you  ;  we  love  the  ILngliOi.  I.et  us 
trade  good  black  tobacco,  moift  and  hard  twifted  ;  let  us  fee  it 
before  it  is  opened.  Take  .pitv  on  us  ;  fake  pity  on  us,  I  fay!' 
The  guns  are  bad,  let  us  trade  light  guns,  briall  in  the  hand^ 
and  well  fhaped,  with  locks  that  v>ill  not  freeze  in  the  winter, 
and  red  gun  cales.  Let  the  young  men  have  more  than  meafura 
of  tobacco  ;  cheap  kettles,  thick,  and  high.  Give  us  good 
mrafure  of  cloth  ;  let  us  fee  the  old  njealure  ;  do  you  mind  me? 
The  young  men  prove  they  love  you,  by  coming  fo  far  to  fee 
you  ;  take  pity,  take  pity,  I  fay  ;  and  give  them  good  goods  ; 
they  like  to  drefs  and  be  fine.      Do  you  underfhand  me  ?" 

As  foon  as  the  captain  has  finillned  his  fpeech,  he,  with  his 
followers,  proceed  to  look  at  the  guns  and  tobacco  ;  the  former 
they  examine  with  the  inoft  minute  attention.  Whrn  this  is 
over  they  trade  their  furs  promifcuoufly  ;  the  leader  being  fo  far 
indulged,  as  to  be  admitted  into  the  trading  room  ;,11  the  limf^, 
if  he  dcfires  it. 

It  is  evident  that  the  fur  and  peltry  trade  might  be  carried  on 
to  a  much  greater  extent,  were  it  not  entirely  in  the  hands  of 
this  exclufive  company,  whofe  interefled,  not  to  fay  iniquitous 
fpirit,   has  been  the  fubjeft  of  long  and  juft  complaint. 

It  will,  we  doubt  not,  feem  very  myllerious  to  the  generality 
of  people,  that  the  company  do  not  exert  themfelvcs  to  turn 
the  riches  of  this  country  to  their  advantage,  when  they  alone 
are  to  reap  the  benefit  of  their  exertions.      People  will  naturally 

F  2 


*36  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

be  kd'  to  conclude  from  their  conduct,  that  what  writers  have 
faid  on  this  fubjeft  is  devoid  of  truth,  and  mere  chimeras  ;  but 
this  is  for  waiit  of  knowing  the  peculiar  x'iews  of  the  company, 
their  afFctlion  for  their  long  foflered  monopoly,  and  that  fingu- 
lar  obfcurity  which  invelopes  their  whole  conftitution,  nay, 
the  whole  of  their  merca;ntile  tranfaftions. 

The  company  do  not  entertain  tlie  leaft  doubt,  but  if  the 
country  they  poffeis  was  properly  explored  by  perfons  of  ability, 
valuable  dilcoveries  might  be  made;  but  this  they  think  may  be 
fo  far  from  redounding  to  their  intereft,  that  it  might  have  a 
contrary  eileti;,  by  encouraging  adventurers  to  petition  for 
liberty  to  partake  of  thele  dilcoverics,  and  thereby  occafion  an 
inveftigatioR  to  take  place,  wiiich  would  probably  fhake  tho 
foundation  of  their  charter.  This  is  not  all  ;  as  the  company 
coriiifls  at  prefent  but  of  fcven  perfons;  this  fmall  number 
wijdy  think,  that  as  long  as  they  can  fhare  a  comfortable  divi- 
dend, there  is  no  occafion  for  their  embarking  in  additional 
e^'penies,  in  order  to  profec\ite  difcoveries  which  might  tranf- 
pire  to  the  world,   and  endanger  the  whole. 

The  limits  of  the  bay  and  ftraits  comprize  a  very  confiderable 
extent  ;  the  foil  of  which,  in  many  parts,  is  capable  of  much 
improvement  by  agriculture  and  induftry.  The  countries  abound 
\vith  mod  kinds  of  quadrupeds,  &e.  whofe  fkins  are  of  great 
value.  The  numerous  inland  rivers,  lakes,  &c.  produce  fifh  of 
almoft  every  fpecies  ;  and  in  the  feas  in  and  about  the  ftraits, 
and  the  norlhern  parts  of  the  bay,  v/hite  and  black  whales,  fea- 
borfcs,  bears,  and  i'eals,  are  killed  in  great  numbers  by  the 
Efquimaux,  whofe  implements  for  this  purpofe  are  exceedingly 
fimple.  What  advantage  might  not  then  arife  to  the  nation 
from  this  branch  of  tride  alone,  were  it  laid  open  ?  If  able 
harpooncrs  were  fcnt  on  this  employ,  with  fufiicient  afTiftants 
arnd  properly  encouraged,  greater  profits  would  accrue  from  this 
fifheiy,  than  from  all  the  peltry  at  prelent  imported  by  the  com- 
pany. Ihe  turroundnig  country,  which  at  prefent  is  entirely 
unknown  to  us,  would,  in  all  likelihood,  be  the  eonfequence  of 
thcfe  Teas  being  more  frequented  than  they  arc.  And  indeed  if 
ever  the  fovts  and  fettlements  on  the  American  boundary  line  are 
lurrendeied  according  to  the  treaty  of  peace,  England  has  no 
other  means  in  her  hands  to  counterpoiie  the  fuperior  advantages 
the  Americans  \viil  then  pollefs  in  the  fur  trade,  than  to  throw 
the  trade  to  liudion's  bay  open,  and  thus  d'^ftroy  a  difgraceful 
monopoly,  or  to  incorpoiate  with  it  by  a  new  charter  the  mer- 
chants trading  to  Canada,  and  thus    infufe  into  it  a  frefh  portion 


N  E  W     B  R  I  T  A  I  N.  3^ 

of  mercantile  vigour :  by  this  means  an  extenfive  intercourfe 
with  nations,  to  which  we  at  prefent  are  almoft  ftrangers,  might 
be  opened,-  and  a  country  explored  whofe  refources  may  equal 
if  not  furpafs  thofe  of  the  country  round  Canada, 

If  it  be  objefted  to  this,  that  the  vaft  quantities  of  ice  in  the 
ftraits  muft  impede  a  veffel  from  making  dilcoveries,  we  anfwer, 
that  many  years  the  ice  is  fo  infignificant  in  quantity  as  not  to 
obftruft  the  palTage  of  the  fhips  in  the  lead  ;  and  in  thofe  fea- 
fons  when  it  is  thickeft,  it  is  diffolved  and  difperfed  in  the  ocean 
long  before  the  return  of  the  (hips  in  September. 

Even  in  the  very  confined  manner  in  which  the  company  carry 
on  this  trade,  it  is  far  from  being  inconfiderable  in  value,  though 
their  fhips  feldom  ftop  but  a  very  fhort  time  for  the  purpofe  of 
trading  with  the  Efquimaux  ;  they  employ  three  fhips  annually, 
which  are  manned  with  feventy-five  men. 

The  company  exports  commodities  to  the  value  of  about  ten 
thoufand  pounds,  and  brin^g  home  returns  to  the  value  of 
twenty-nine  thoufand  three  hundred  and  forty  pounds,  which 
yield  to  the  revenue  about  three  thoufand  feven  hundred  and 
thirty-four  pounds.  This  includes  the  fifhery  in  Hudfon's  bay. 
That  this  commerce,  fmall  as  it  is,  affords  immenfe  profits  to  the 
company,  and  even  fome  advantages  to  Great-Britain  in  general, 
cannot  be  denied ;  for  the  conmiodities  exchanged  with  the 
Indians  for  their  fkins  and  furs,  are  all  manufa£luied  in  Britain  ; 
and  as  the  Indians  are  not  very  nice  in  their  choice,  fuch  things 
are  fent  of  which  there  is  the  greateft  plenty,  and  which,  to  ule 
a  mercantile  phrafe,  are  drugs.  Though  the  workmanfliip  hap- 
pens to  be  in  many  refpefts  fo  deficient,  that  no  civilized  people 
would  take  it,  it  may  be  admired  among  the  Indians.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  Ikins  and  furs  brought  home  in  return  afford 
articles  for  trading  with  many  nations  of  Europe  to  great  ad- 
vantage. Thefe  circumflances  prove  the  immenfe  benefit  that 
would  redound  to  Britain,  by  throwing  open  the  trade  to  Hud- 
fon's bay,  fince  even  in  its  prefent  reffiained  ftate  it  is  fo  advan- 
tageous,* The  only  attempt  made  to  trade  with  Labrador,  has 
been  direfted  towards  the  fifliery.  Great-Britain  has  no  fettle- 
ment  there.  The  annual  produce  of  the  Hflieiy  amounts  to 
upwards  of  forty-nine  thoufand  pounds. 


*  In  May  1782  all  the  forts  and  fettlements  belonging  to  the  Hudfon's  bay 
company  were  deftroyed  by  the  French,  the  damages  iullained  were  rated  at 
^ve  hundred  thoufand  pouads. 


(    33     ) 
NOVA-SCOTIA; 

COMPREHENDING     THE      PSOVIVCE     OF      N  E  U'-B  RU  N' S\V  IC  K     AS'B 
NOVA-SCO  riA. 

SITUATION,  EXTENT,  AND  BOUNDARIES,      , 

X  HESE  provinces  are  fituated  between  43^  30'  and  ^(j^  north 
latitude,  and  60°  and  67''  eaft  longitude  from  London,  or  8°  and 
15°  eafl  longitude  from  Philadelphia.  Their  length  is  four  hun- 
dred miles,  and  their  breadth  three  hundred.  They  are  bounded 
on  the  north,  by  the  river  St.  Lawrence  ;  on  the  eafl,  by  the  gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  which  wafhes  its  coafts  one  hundred  and  ten 
leagues  in  extent,  from  the  gut  of  Canfb,  at  its  entrance  into  the 
gulf,  to  caps  Rozier,  which  forms  the  iouth  part  of  the  river 
St.  Lawrence,  and  by  the  gut  of  Canfo,  which  divides  it  from 
Cape  &reton;  on  the  fouth,  it  is  wafhed  by  the  Atlantic  ocean, 
having  a  Tea  coaft  of  ninety  leagues,  from  cape  Canfo,  caft,  to 
cape  Sables,  well:,  which  forms  one  part  of  the  entrance  into 
the  bay  of  Fundy,  which  alfo  forms  a  part  of  its  louthern  boun- 
dary ;  weft,  by  a  part  of  Lower  Canada,  and  the  diftrift  of 
Maine. 

Noiwithftanding  the  forbidding  appearance  of  this  country,  it 
was  here  that  fome  of  the  firft;  European  fettlements  were  made. 
The  firfl  grant  of  lands  in  it  was  given  by  James  the  Firft  to  his 
fecretary,  Sir  William  Alexander,  from  whom  it  had  the  name 
of  Nova-Scotia,  or  New-Scotland  ;  fince  then  it  has  frequently 
changed  hands,  from  one  private  proprietor  to  another,  and  from 
the  French  to  the  EngliHi  nation  backward  and  forward.  It  was 
not  conFivmed  to  the  Englilh,  till  the  peace  of  Utrecht,  and  their 
defign  in  acquiring  it  does  not  fetm  to  have  arifen  fo  much  from 
any  profpeti  of  direft  profit  to  be  obtained  by  it,  as  frorri  an  ap- 
prehenfion  that  the  French,  by  polTefting  this  province,  might 
have  had  it  in  their  power  to  annoy  the  other  Britifti  fettlements. 
Upon  this  pr'nciple,  three  thoufand  families  were  tranlported  in 
i-j^g,  at  the  charga  of  the  government,  into  this  country,  who 
built  and  fettled  the  town  of  Halifax. 

The  traft  cf  country  within  thefe  limits,  known  by  llae  name 
of  Nova-Scoti),    or  New-Scolland,  was,  in    1784,   divided   into 


NOi^A-SCOriA.  §i) 

two  provinces,  vii.  New-Brunfwick,  on  the  north-weft,  and 
Nova-Scotia,  on  the  Ibuth-eaft.  The  former  com-prehends  that 
part  of  the  old  province  of  Nova-Scotia,  which  lies  to  the  north- 
ward and  weftward  of  a  line  drawn  from  the  mouth  of  the  river 
St.  Croix,  through  the  center  of  the  bay  of  Fundy  to  bay  Verte, 
and  thence  into  the  gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  including  all  lands 
within  fix  leagues  of  the  coaft.  The  reft  is  the  province  of  Nova- 
Scotia,  to  which  is  annexed,  the  ifland  of  St.  John's,  which  lies 
north  of  it,  in   the  gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

SOIL,   PRODUCTIONS,  &c. 

During  a  great  part  of  the  year,  the  atmofphere  is  clouded 
'with  thick  fog,  which  renders  it  unhealthy  for  the  inhabitants  ; 
and  four  or  five  mbnths  it  is  intenlely  cold.  A  great  part  of  this 
country  lies  in  foreft,  and  the  foil,  in  many  parts,  is  thin  and 
barren.  On  the  banks  of  the  rivers,  however,  and  fome  other 
parts,  the  foil  is  very  good,  producing  large  crops  of  Englifli 
grafs,  hemp,  and  flax  :  many  of  the  bays,  and  lalt  water  riveis, 
and  fome  parts  of  the  fea  coaft,  are  bordered  with  fine  trafts  of 
i'alt  marfh  ;  but  the  inhabitants  do  not  raife  provifions  enough  fox* 
home  confumption. 

RIVERS,  BAYS,  LAKES  AND  CAPES. 

The  rivers  which  water  this  country  we  fhall  mention  in  con* 
fieftion  with  the  different  counties  in  which  they  principally 
flow,  a  few,  however,  call  for  feparate  notice.  The  rivers 
Rifconge  and  Nipifiguit  run  from  weft  to  eaft  into  Chaleui-  and 
Nipifiguit  bays,  which  communicate  witii  the  gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence. The  river  St.  Croix  (which  is  the  true  St.  Croix  is  yet 
undetermined)  empties  into  Paffaniaquoddy  bay,  and  forms  a 
part  of  the  boundary  between  New-Brunfwick  atid  Maine;  St* 
John's  is  the  largeft  river  in  the  province.  It  empties  into  the 
north  fide  of  the  bay  of  Fundy,  and  is  navigable  for  veffels  of 
nfty  tons,  fixty  miles,  and  for  boats  upwards  of  two  hundred 
miles.  This  is  a  common  route  to  Quebec.  The  banks  of  this 
riVerj  enriched  by  the  annual  frefhetSj  are  ex';ellent  land^ 
About  thirty  miles  from  the  mouth  of  tliis  river  commences  a  fine 
level  country,  covered  with  large  tiess  of  timber  of  various 
kinds.  Mafts,  from  twenty  to  thirtv  inches  in  diameter,  have 
been  cut  on  this  traft.  The  tide  flows,  in  this  river,  eighty  or 
ninety  miles.  It  furnifl-ies  th(;  inhabitants  with  falmon,  bais, 
and  fturgeon.  Near  fort  Howe,  the  river  fuddenlv  narrows, 
and  occafions  a  fall  at  certain  times  of  tide,  like  that  at  London 
fridge. 


40  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  0  F 

The  coaft  of  thefe  provinces  is  indented  with  numerous  bays, 
and  commodious  harbours.  The  principal,  as  you  defcend 
foutherly  from  the  mouth  of  St.  Lawrence  river,  are  Gafpee, 
Chaleur,  Verte,  which  is  feparated  from  the  bay  of  Fundy  by  a 
narrow  ifthmus  of  about  eighteen  miles  wide  ;  cape  and  harbour 
of  Canfo,  forty  leagues  eaftward  of  Halifax.  Chedabufto  bay 
about  ten  leagues  north-weft  of  Canfo.  Chebufto  bay,  on  which 
Hands  the  town  of  Halifax.  The  bay  of  Fundy,  which  extends 
fifty  leagues  into  the  country,  in  which  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the 
tide  is  from  forty-five  to  fixty  feet.  Chenigto  bay  is  at  the  head 
of  Fundy  bay.  PafiTamaquoddy  bay  borders  on  the  diflrift  of 
Maine,  and  receives  the  waters  of  St.  Croix  river.  At  the 
entrance  of  this  bay  is  an  ifland,  granted  to  feveral  gentlemen  in 
Liverpool  in  Lancalhire,  who  named  it  Campobello.  At  a  very 
confiderable  expenfe,  they  attempted  to  form  a  fettlement  there, 
but  failed.  On  feveral  other  iflands  in  this  bay  there  are  fettle- 
ments  made  by  people  from  Maflachufetts.  Among  tjhe  lakes 
in  thefe  provinces,  which  are  very  numerous,  and  many  as  yet 
without  names,  is  Grand  lake,  in  the  province  of  New-Brunf- 
wick,  near  St.  John's  river,  about  thirty  miles  long,  and  eight 
or  ten  broad,  and  in  fomc  places  forty  fathoms  deep. 

The  principal  capes  are  cape  Canfo,  on  the  weft  fide  of  the 
entrance  into  Chedabufto  bay,  and  cape  Sables,  on  the  eaft  fide 
of  the  entrance  into  the  bay  of  Fundy. 

CIVIL  DIVISIONS. 

Thefe  in  1783,  were  as  follows: 


N  0  V  A  ~  S  C  0  T  I  A. 


41 


Counties. 


TowiiJIiips 


Wilniot 


Annapolis, 
on  Annapolis    ^Gnnville 
river.  Annapolis 

Clare 

Monflion 


Cumber- 
Land, 
at  the  head  of 
bay  ot  Fundy 


Cumberland 

1  Sackville 

f  Amherft 
Hilllboro' 
Hopcvt'ell 


SUNBURY, 

on  the  river  St 
Jolin's,  north    r 
fhoreofbayof 
Fundy. 


Conway 

Gage-Tov^^n 
Burton 


St.   Ana's 

WillnioL 

Newton 

Maui;Tviile 

Argyl-; 


by  ahomfeitUd. 


Riven. 


Hants,  j  Windfor 
on  the  river  I  Falmouth 
Avon.  f  Newport 


-j    Halifax  ^ 

I  London  Dtr.  ^ 

I  Truro  "5 

Halifax,      I   Onflow  > 

Eaftern  part  of  ^Cnlchefler  ' 

Nova-Scotia.      [  Lawrence  j 

Southampton  J 

Canfo  I 

J   Tinmouth  "^ 


Kings,  Cornwallis 

on    the    Bafon  V 
of  Miner.  j  Horton 


Avon  or  Pigiguit-j    All  eniptyina;  iuu 
I  tlie  Avon,  and  c  \- 


-s  St.  Croix 
I  Kenetcoo 
I  Cociuigiu 

JCicaguf-t 
Cobeguit 


t 
ucn 


cept  the   lait  n.u  i-  \ 
blc. 

40  iniles  f 
f  60  to. 


J.. 

^  Nav.  40 
5  veift:ls  o 


Irifh  &  Scotch 

from   N.  Lng- 
laud 


L 

7   fett.  from  Irel. 

5  and    N.  Eng. 
do.  a  line  town 
fhip  30  miles 
in  leng.  on  the  ^ 
bay  of  Fundy. 

7  40  families    of 

3  AcadiuHs 


Shebbenaccadie.      Boatabk 
VPitcoudiac 
Memrcmcoot 


Percau,   fmall 

Habitant,  navig.  for  vcff.  of  40  tons    a 
fmall  dillance. 
.    Canaid,   navig.    for   veil,    of    160  tons 
f      3  or  4  miles. 
Cornwallis,    navig.    for    vcff.    of    lOO 
tons  5  miles,  for  vcff.  ot  50  tons  1 
miles. 
Salmon  river.* 


} 


fett.    from   N. 


-\    lett.    rrora    i\ 
h  Eng.  &  Yorkf 

^    r_».      f „     -M 

} 


Annapolis,  navigable  for  fliips  of  any 
burthen  10  miles — of  lOO  tons 
miles  ;  tide  flows  30  miles,  pafl'able 
in  boats  to  within  twenty  miles  ot 
Horton. 


fett.  from  N. 
of  Ire.  N.  Eng. 
&.  Yorkfliirc. 


An  Lac 

Marequefh 
La  I'lanche 
Napan 
^Macon 
Memrcm 
Pctcoudia 
Chepodie 

J   Herbert 


which  are  navig.  3  01 
4  miles  for  vcireli 
of  5  tons. 

thoal  rivers. 

> navigable  4  or  5  miles 

navigable  by  boats  re 
its  bead,  i.i  miles. 


1 


%  Argyle 
OuEENS,  Yarmouth 

louih  lide  of     I  Harrington 
bay  of  Fundy.  (Sable  Ifl.) 

J  Liverpool 

,  I  New-Dublin 

u  U  N  F.  K  B  U  R  C  ;       I 

in  Maiione         v  Lunenburg 
■ay.  C.hrfter 

J   Blandtord 


fettled  from 
M.illacbufetls, 
Connefl  icut, 
-J    Sec. 

Scots  &  Acad. 

N'cw-Eugland 

7.  Quakers   from 

S   N-«nLucket 

New- Ell  gland 

}Ir'lb  formerly 
now  Germans 
Germans 
New-England 
3  ianiilies  only 


VSt.  John's,  already  defmribed. 


None. 


None. 


*  There  are  feUlemcnts  of  Acadians  on  all  thcfc  rivers,  wlu.ie  Un.ks  are  go''s,d  land. 


■^2  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

PRINCIPAL  TOWNS. 

i  .':Halifax  is  the  capital  of  the  province  of  Nova-Scotia.  It 
Hands. on  Chebufto  bay,  commoJioiiny  fituated  for  the  fifhery, 
and  has  a  communication  witli  other  parts  of  this  province  and 
Ncw-Brunlwick  by  land  and  water  carriage.  It  has  a  good 
harbour,  where  a  Im  11  iquadron  of  fiiips  of  war  lie  during 
the  winter,  and  in  tlie  lummer  protcfts  the  fifheiy.  The 
town  has  an  entrenchment,  and  is  flrengthened  with  forts  of 
timber.  It  is  laid  to  contain  fifteen  or  hxteen  thoufand  inha- 
bitants. 

SHEi,3URNr.  on  port  Rofeway,  near  cape  Sables,  was  fup- 
pofed,  ;:i  i78_3,  to  contain  fix  hundred  familits  ;  fince  tha^ 
time  it  has  becv.'npjlc'^s  populous.  Guyfborough  formerly  called 
Mancheller,  lituatsd  on  Chedabufto  bay,  about  ten  leagues 
north-weft  of  cape  Canfo,  contained,  in  1783,  about  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  families.  Rauv'  ^n  forty  miles  from  Halifax,  has 
about  fixty  houl'es.'  Annapolis  on  the  caft  hdc  of  Fundy  bay, 
has  one  of  tlie  £neft  harbours  in  the  world.  In  other  relpefts 
it  is  a  poor,   inconfiderable  place. 

Fredericktown',  about  ninety  miles  up  St.  John's  river, 
is  the  capital  of  the  province  of  New-Brunfwick. 

FORTS. 

There  are  fcveral  forts  in  thefe  provinces  :  thefe  are  fort 
£dward  at  Windfor,  capable  of  containing  two  hundred  men  i 
Annapolis,  in  its  prefent  ftate,  one  hundred  ;  Cumberland, 
three  hundred;  fort  Howe,  on  St.  John's  river,  one  hundred; 
befidcs  which  there  are  barracks,  inclofcd  in  a  ftockade  at 
Cornwallis,   for  about  fifty  men. 

TRADE. 

The  exports  from  Great-Britain  to  this  country  confifi:  chiefly 
of  Unen  and  woollen  cloths,  and  other  neceffu'ries  for  wear, 
of  fiihing  tackle,  and  rigginff,  for  fliips.  The  amount  of  ex- 
ports, at  an  average  of  three  years,  before  the  new  lettlcments, 
was  about  twenty-fix  thoufand  five  hundred  pounds.  The 
only  articles  obtained  in  excliangc  are,  timber  and  the  produce 
of  the  hOncry,  which,  at  a  like  average,  amounted  to  thirty- 
eisjht  thoufand  pounds.  But  from  the  late  incrcaie  of  inhabi- 
tants, it  is  fuppc'fcd  that  they  will  now  ereft  law  mills,  and 
endeavour  to  (upply  the  Weft-India  iilands  witli  lumber  of  every 
kind,  as  well  as  the  produce  of  the  fifhery,  which  will  be  a 
profitable  article   to    both  countries.     The  whole    population  of 


NOVA-SCOTIA.  43 

H<5Va-Scotia  and  the  iflands  adjoining,  is  eflimated  at  fifty  thou- 
fand.  This  eftimate  it  is  fuppofed  is  confiderably  too  large. 
Recent  accounts  of  theCe  fettlements  reprefent  them  a&  in  a 
declining  (late,  having  great  numbers  of  the  houfes  built  in  the 
new  towns  uninhabited,  and  confiderably  reduced  in  value. 

I  N  D  I  A  N  S,    &c. 

The  Indians  here  are  the  It'Iicmacks,  and  the  tribe  called  tha 
Maicchites.  The  former  inhabit  the  caftern  fhore,  between 
H«ilifax  and  cape  Breton;  between  Cumberland  county  and  the 
north-eaft  coaft  of  the  province,  towards  Chalcur  bay  ;  about 
the  heads  of  the  rivers  which  run  through  the  counties  of 
Hants  and  King's  county  ;  and  between  cape  Sable  and  Anna- 
polis royal.  This  tribe  is  fuppofed  to  have  about  three  hundred 
fighting  men.  The  Marechites  inhabit  the  river  Sr,  John,  and 
around  Paffamaquoddy  bay,  are  efliniated  at  ono  hundred  and 
forty  fighting  men  ;  they  are  much  fuperior  in  all  refpefts  to 
the  Micmacks, — The  animals  are  the  fame  as  in  the  United  States.^ 
though  much  iefs  numerous. 


^— ..<..<  .<.H<..<..<..<^^  ^  t^>-*->-*->->->- 


ISLAND  OF  SAINT  JOHN. 


T> 


HIS  ifland  lies  in  the  gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  near  the  north- 
ern coaft  of  the  province  of  Nova-Sfcotia,  and  is  about  fixty 
miles  long,  and  thirty  or  forty  broad.  It  has  fevcral  fine  rivers, 
a  rich  foil,  and  is  plcafantly  fituatcd.  Chailotte-town  is  its 
principal  town,  and  is  the  refidence  of  the  lieutenant-governor, 
who  is  the  chief  officer  on  the  ifiand.  The  number  of  inhabi- 
tants are  eflimated  at  about  five  thoufand.  Upon  the  reduftion 
of  cape  Breton  in  1745,  the  inhabitants  of  this  ifland,  amount- 
ing to  about  four  thoufand,  fubmittcd  quietly  to  the  Britiih 
arms.  While  the  French  poffeffcd  this  ifland,  they  improved  it 
to  lo  much  advantage,  that  it  was  called  the  granary  of  Canada 
which  it  furnifhed  vyith  great  plenty  of  corn,  as  well  as  beef 
^nd  pork.     It  is  attached  to  the  province  of  Nova-Scotia. 


(      44      ) 

NEV/FOUNDLAND  ISLAND. 


EWFOUNDLAND    is   fituated  to  the  eafl;  of  the  gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence,  between  forty-fix  and  fifty-two  degrees  of  north 
latitude,  and    between    fifty-tht»ee    and    fifty-nine    degrees    wefh 
longitude,    feparated    from    Labrador,    or    New-Britain,    by    the 
ftraits  of  Bellcifle  ;   and    from    Canada,  by    the  bay  of  St.   Law- 
rence ;  being  five  hundi-ed  and  fifty  miles  long  and  two  hundred 
broad.     The  coafts  are  extremely  fubjeft  to   fogs,  attended   with 
alnioft  continual    ftorms  of  fnow  and   fleet,  the  fky  being  ufually 
overcaft.     From  the  foil  of  this  ifland  the   Britifli    reap   no  great 
advaritage,  for  the    cold   is  long  continued  and  fcvere  ;  and   the 
fumrnei:  heat,  though  violent,  warms  it  not  enough  to   produce 
any  thing  valuable  ;  for   the    foil,  at   leaft   in  thofe  parts  of  the 
ifland  which  have  been  explored,  is  rocky  and  barren  ;  however, 
it  is   watered   bv   feveral   good    rivers,  and   has  many  large  and 
good  harbours.     This  ifland,  whenever  the  continent  fhall  come 
to   fail  of  timber  convenient    to  navigation,  which  on    the    fea 
coalt  perhaps  will  be  at  no  very  remote  period,  it  is   faid,  will 
alford   a    large   fupply  for  rnafts,   yards,   and   all   forts   of  lumber 
for   the   Weil-India    trade.      But    what    at    prefcnt    it   is   chiefly 
valuable  for,   is  the  great   fifliery   of  cod    carried    on  upon   thofe 
fhoals,  which    are    called   the   banks  of  Newfoundland.     Great- 
Britain  and  North-America,  at  the  lowed  computation,  annually 
employ   three   thoufand   fail    of  fmall   craft   in    this   fifliery  ;    on 
board  of  which,   and    on    fliore   to   cure   and   pack    the    fifh,  are 
upwards  of  one  hundred  thoufand   hands:   fo  that   this   fifliery  is 
not  only  a  valuable  branch  of  trade  to  the  merchant,  but  a  fource 
of  livelihood  to  fo   many    thoufands  of  poor  people,  and  a  moft 
excellent   nurferv    for    feamen.       This   fifliery    is    computed    to 
increafe   the   national    fl;ock    three   hundred    thoufand  pounds    a 
year   in    gold   and  filver,   remitted  for  the  cod  fold  in  the  north, 
in  Spain,   Po'tugnl,   Italy,  and   the   I-evant.      Tlic  plenty  of  cod^ 
both  on  the  great  bank  and  the  lefl'er  ones,  which   lie  to  the  eaft 
and    fouth  call:    of  this    ifland,   is   inconceiveable ;  and   not    only 
cod,  but  Icvcral  other  fpecies  of  fifli,  are  caught  there  in  abun^ 
dance  ;  all   of  which   are    nearly   in   an   equal    plenty  along  the 
fliores    of  Newfoundland.   Nova-Scotia,   New-England,   and   the 
ifle  of  cape  Breton  ;  and  very  profitable  fifheries  are  carried  on 
upon  all  their  coafls. 


NEWFOUNDLAND   ISLAND.  45 

This   ifland,  after  various   cJifputes   about    the  property,    was 
entirely  ceded  to    England   by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  in    1713; 
but    the    French  were   left   at  liberty   to  dry  their  nets  on   the 
northern  fliores   of  the   ifland  ;  and  by  the  treaty  of  1763,  they 
were  permitted  to   fifh    in   the   gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  but  with 
this    limitation,     that   they    fhould    not   approach    within    three 
Leagues  of  any  of  the   coafts  belonging  to   England.     The    fmall 
iflands  of  St.   Pierre  and  Miquelon,  fituated  to  the  fouthward  of 
Newfoundland,  were  alfo  ceded  to  the   French,  who    ftir)ulated 
to  ereft  no  fortifications  on  thefe  iflands,  nor  to  keep  more    than 
fifty  foldiers  to  enforce  the  police.     By  the  laft  treaty  of  peace, 
the  French  are  to  enjoy  the   fifheries  on  the   north    and  on  the 
weft   coafts  of  the    ifland;    and    the  inhabitants  of  the  United 
States  are  allowed  the  fame  privileges    in   fifhing  as  before  their 
independence.      The    chief  towns    in    Newfoundland    are,  Pla- 
centia,  Bonavifla,  and   St.  John's :  but  not  above  one    thoufand 
families  remain  here  in  winter.     A  finall  fquadron  of  men  of  war 
are  Cent  out  every  fpring  to  proteft  the  fifheries  and  inhabitants, 
the  admiral  of  which,  for    the   time  being,  is    governor   of  the 
ifland,  befides  whom  there  are   two  lieutenant-governors,  one  at 
Placentia,  and  the  other  at  St.  John's. 


GflNERAL    DESCRIPTION 


GREENLAND. 


G. 


'REENI-AND  is  a  general  name  by  which  is  now  denoted 
the  jA6ft  eaflerly  parts  of  America,  (Iretching  towards  tKe  north 
pole,  and  likewifc  fbme  iflands  northward  of  the  continent  of 
Europe,  lying  in  very  high  latitudes.  The  whole  of  this  coun- 
try was  formerly  defcribed  as  belonging  to  Europe,  but  from  its 
■contiguity  to,  and  probable  union  with  the  American  continent, 
it  appears  mo{t  proper  to  be  clafied  among  the  countries  belong- 
in^  to  th«  latter  ;  we  therefore  have  followed  Mr.  Morfe,  and 
placed  it  among  the  divifiohs  of  North-America. — It  is  divided 
into  two  parts,  viz.  Weft  and  Eaft  Greenland,  of  each  we  (haU 
here  give  a  defcription  from  the  beft  authorities  extant. 


.4..<..<..<..<..<..«.^  i^  »^  >..>..>.>..>..>.>.._-. 


WEST     GREENLAND.. 

X  HIS  country  is  now  laid  down,  in  our  lateft  maps,  as  part  of 
the  continent  of  America,  though  on  what  authority  is  not  verv 
clear,* 


*  Whetlier  Greenland  is  an  ifiand,  has  not  yet  been  decided,  as  no  fhip  has 
penetrated  higher  than  the-  feventy-eighth  degree,  on  account  of  the  ice.  That  it 
is  not  an  ifland,  but  a  part  of  the  American  continent,  is  rendered  probable; 
ifl.  Secaufe. Davis'  ftraits,- or  rather  Baiiin's  Bay,  grows  harrower  and  narrower, 
towards  the  feventy-eighth  degree  north.  —  ad.  Becaufe  the  cbaft,  which  in  other 
places  is  very  high  towards  the  fea,  grows  lower  and  lower  northward. — 3d.  Be- 
caufe the  tide,  which  at  cape  Farewell,  and  ?.<;  far  up  as  Cockin's  found,  in  the. 
fixty-fifth  degree  of  latitude,  rifcs  eighteen  feet  at  the  new  and  full  moon,  dct 
c;cafcs  to  tl-^  northward  of  Diskc,  fo  that  in  the  fcyeniisth  degree  of  ^atit^Qf 


CREEJ^LAND.  4^ 

•  That  part  of  it  which  the  Europeans  have  any  knowledge 
of  is  bounded  on  the  weft  by  BafRn's  bay,  on  the  fouth  by 
Davis'  flraits,  and  on  the  eaft  by  the  notthern  part  of  the  At- 
lantic Ocean.  It  is  a  very  mountainous  country,  and  fome  parts 
of  it  fo  high  that  they  may  be  difcerned  thirty  leagues  off  at  fea. 
The  inland  mountains,  hills,  and  rocks  are  covered  with  per- 
petual fnow  ;  but  the  low  lands  on  thte  fea-fide  are  clothed  \ith 
verdure  in  the  fummer  feafon.  The  coaft  abounds  with  inlets, 
bays,  and  large  rivers  ;  and  is  furrounded  with  a  vaft  number  of 
iflands  of  difFerent  dimenfions.  In  a  great  many  places,  how- 
ever, on  the  eaftern  coaft  efpecially,  the  fliore  is  inatceflible 
by  reafon  of  the  floating  mountains  of  ice.  The  principal  river, 
called  Baal,  falls  into  the  lea  in  the  fixty-fourth  degree  of  lati- 
tude, where  the  firft  Daniili  lodge  was  built  in  lyat  ;  and 
has  been   navigated   above   forty    miles  up    the  country. 

.  Weft  Greenland  was  firft  peopled  by  Europeans  in  the  eighth 
century.  At  that  time  a  company  of  Icelanders,  headed  by  one 
Erieke  Rande,  were  by  accident  driven  on  the  coaft.  On  his  re- 
turn he  reprefented  the  country  in  fuch  a  favourable  light,  that 
fpm.e  families  again  followed  him  thither,  where  they  foon  be- 
came a  thriving  colony,  and  beftowed  on  their  new  habitation, 
the  name  of  Greenland,  or  Greenland,  on  account  of  its  verdant 
appearance.  This  colony  was  converted  to  Chriftianity  by  a 
milFionary  from  Norway,  fent  thither  by  the  celebrated  Olaf,  the 
firft  Norwegian  monarch  who  embraced  the  Chriftian  religion. 
The  Greenland  (ettlement  continued  to  increafeand  thrive  undei 
his  proteftion  ;  and  in  a  little  time  the  country  was  provided  with 
many  towns,  churches,  convents,  bifhops,  &c.  under  the  juril- 
ditlion  of  the  archbifhop  of  Drontheim.  A  confiderable  com- 
merce was  carried  on  between  Greenland  and  Norway;  and  a 
regular  intercourfe  mairitained  between  the  two  countries  till  the 
year  1406,  when  the  Idft  bifliop  was  fent  over.  From  that  time 
all  correfpondcnce  was  cut  off,  and  all  knowledge  of  Greenland 
has  been  buried  in  oblivion. 


it  rifes  little  more  than  eight  feet,  and  prafcably  continues  to  diminilh,  till  there 
is  no,  tide  at  all.  To  which  may  be  added  the  relation  of  the  Greenlanders , 
■which  however  cannot  be  much  depended  on,  viz.  that  the  ftrait  contrafts  itfelf 
fo  narrow  at  laft,  that  they  can  go  on  the  ice  fo  near  to  the  other  fide,  as  to  be 
able  to  call  to  the  inhabitants,  and  that  they  can  ftrike  a  fifh  on  both  fides  at 
once  ;  but  that  there  runs  fuch  a  (Irong  current  from  the  north  into  the  ftrait,  that 
tlicy  cannot  pafs  it. 

,""  "     Ellis's  voyage  te  Huiyur.'i  bay  far  tkc  dif(.vvery  of  a  wrthKijl  pajjage. 


^8  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION   OF 

This  ftrange  and  abrupt  ceffation   of  trade  and  intercourfe  lias 
been  attributed    to  various  caufes  ;    but   the  moft  probable  is  the 
following  :   The  colony,  from  its  firft  fettlement,  had  been  har- 
rafled  bv   the  nalivesj    a   barbarous   and  favage  people  ;    agreeing 
in    cuftoms,    garb,   and   appearance,    with   the  Eiquimaux   found 
about  Hudfon's  bay.     This  nation,    called    Schrellings,  at  length 
prevailed    againft  the    Iceland  fettlcrs  who  inhabited  the  weftern 
diftriO:   and  exterminated    them  in    the  fourteenth  century  :   in- 
iomuch    that  when  their  brethren   of  the   eaftern  diftrifi;  came  to 
their  afliftance,   they    found    nothing    alive  but   fome   cattle  and 
flocks  of  (heep  running  wild  about    the  country.     Perhaps  they 
themfelves    afterwards    experienced  the    fame  fate,   and  were  to- 
tally deftroyed  by   thefe    Schrellings,  whofe  defcendants  fliU  in- 
habit   the  weftern   parts  of  Greenland,  and    from   tradition  con- 
firm this  conjefture.     They   affirm  that  the  houfes    and  villages, 
whole   ruins    ftiU   appear,  were   inhabited  by  a   nation  of  ftran- 
gers    whom  their  anceftors  deftroyed.     There   are  reaions,  how- 
ever   for  believing    that  there   may  be    ftill  fome  defcendants  of 
the  ancient    Iceland    colony    remaining    in    the   eaftern    diftrift, 
though  they  cannot  be  vifited  by  land,  on  account  of  the  ftupen- 
dous  mountains,  perpetually  covered  with  fnow,   which    divide 
ihe    two   parts   of  Greenland  ;  while   they   have   been    rendered 
inacceffible   by  fea,    by    the    vaft    quantity    of   ice    driven    from 
Spitzbergen,  or  Eaft  Greenland.     One  would  imagine  that  there 
muft  have  been  fome  confiderable  alteration  in  the  northern  parts 
of  the    w-orld   fince  the    fifteenth    centuiy,   fo  that    the  coaft  of 
Greenland    is    now   become    almoft    totally    inacceflible,    though 
formerly  vifited  with  very  little   difficulty.      It  is  alfo    natural  to 
afk,  bv  what  means  the  people  of  the  eaftern  colony  furmounted 
the    above-mentioned  obftacles   when  they  went  to  the  affiftance 
of  their  weftern  friends  ;  how  they  returned  to  their  own   coun- 
try -,  and  in  what  manner  hiftorians  learned  the  fuccefs   of  their 
expedition  ?    Concerning   all    this    wc  have  very  little  fatisfaftory 
information.     All    that  can   be   learned   from  the  moft  authentic 
records  is.  that  Greenland   was    divided   into  two  diftrifts,  called 
Weft-Bv^d  and  Eaft-Bygd  :   th^t  the  weftern  divifion   contained 
four  parilhes  and  one    hundred  villages  ;   that  the  eaftern  diftri£i 
was    ftill    more    fiourifhing,  as    being    nearer   to  Iceland,   fooner 
fettled,  and  more  frequented  by  fhipping  from  Norway.      There 
are  alio  many  accounts,  though  moft  of  them  romantic  and  flight-, 
Iv  attefted,   which    render   ii    probable   that   part    of  the  eaftern.. 
colony   ftill    fubfifts,  who,  at  fome  time  or  other,  may  have  given 
the  imperfeft  relation  above  mentioned.     This  colony,  in  ancient 


GREENLAND.  49 

times,  Certainly  comprehended  twelve  extenfive  pariflies  ;  one 
hundred  and  ninety  villages  ;  abifhop's  fee,  and  two  monafterics. 
The  prefent  inhabitants  of  the  weftern  diflrifl  are  entirely  igno- 
rant of  this  part,  from  which  tiiey  are  divided  by  rocks,"  raoun-  . 
tains»  and  deferts,  and  flill  more  efteGbually  by  their  appreiien- 
fion  :  for  they  believe  tne  eaftern  Green^anders  to  be  a-_eruel, 
barbarous  nation,  that  dcllioy  and  eat  all  ftrangers  who  fall  Into 
their  hands.  About  a  century  after  all  intercourfc  between 
Norway  and  Greenland  hnd  ceafed,  feveral  fhips  were  lent  fuc- 
ceflively  by  the  kings  of  Denmark  in  order  to  uifcover  the  caft- 
ern^4'ftnft .J.hiit  all  of  them  mifcarried.  Among  thefe  -adyen-:^ 
turers,  Mogens  Heinfon,  after  having  furmountcd  many  difEcul- 
ties  and  dangers,  got  fight  of  the  land  ;  which,  hov.ever,  he  couid 
not  approach.  At  his  return  he  pretended  that  the  fhip  was 
arrefled  in  the  middle  of  her  courfe  by  certain  rocks  of  ioad- 
ftorte  at  the  bottom  of  the  Tea,  Tiie  fame  year,  1,576,  in  which 
this  attempt  was  made,  has  been  rendered  remarkable  b^-  the 
voyage  of  Captain  Martin  Frobifher,  lent  upon  the  fam.e  ermnd 
by  Queen  Elizabeth.  He  likewiCe  defcried  the  nnd  ;  but  could 
not  reach  it,  and  therefore  returned  to  England  ;  vet  not  before 
he  had  failed  fixty  leagues  in  the  ftrait,  which  flill  retains  his 
name,  and  landed  on  feveral  ifl.mds,  where  he  had  Tome  com- 
munication with  the  natives.  He  had  likewife  taken  pofteuion 
of  the  country  in  the  name  of  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  and  brought 
away  fome  pieces  of  heavy  black  (lone,  from  which  the  refiners 
of  London  extrafted  a  certain  proportion  of  gold.  In  the  en- 
fuin?  fpring  he  undertook  a  fecond  voyage,  at  the  head  of  a 
fmall  fquadron,  equipped  at  the  expenfs  of  the  public,  entered 
the  ftraits  a  fecond  time  ;  difcovcied  upon  an  ifland  a  gold  and 
lilve'r  mine  ;  beflow^d  names  upon  different  bsys,  iflands,  and 
head- lands;  and  brought  away  a  lading  of  ore,  together  with 
two  natives,  a  male  and    female,  whom  the  Enolifli  kidnapped. 

'Such  was  the  fuccsfs  of  this  voyage,  that  another  armaniciit 
Was  'fitted  out  under  the  aufpices  of  Admiral  Frobiflier,  conllil- 
ing  of  fifteen  fail,  including  a  confiderable  number  of  loldidKfs, 
miners,  fmeltcrs,  carpenters,  and  bakers,  to  remain  all  the  winter 
near  the-mines  in  a  wo6den  fort,  the  diflerent  pieces  of  which 
tht!yc4rrifetf'oiit-iH  thi;  tr^nfports.  They  met  with  boiileious 
•weather,  'impehctrablc  fogs,  and  violent  currents  upon  the  co^ilt 
of- -Grfeentand,* which  retarded  their  operations  until  the  feaion 
Wdisif^"r  ^fl^ant^d;  Part  of  tlieir  wooden  fort  was  loft  at  fea  ; 
arid'the'y-^^d  "neither  provihon  nor  fuel  fufncient  for  the  winter/. 
T4ie  ^Siiral  therefore  determined  to  return  with  a«  much,  or*' 
iaaioas  n:   .      .  tr  : .  .  .  ^ 


50  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OV 

as  lie  could  procure,  of  this  they  obtained  large  quantities  out 
of  a  new  rniiic,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  the  Countels  of 
Siiflcx,  They  l.kewifc  built  an  houfe  of  ftone  and  lime,  provid- 
ed with  ovens;  and  here,  with  a  view  to  conciliate  the  afFeftion 
of  the  natives,  they  left  3  quantity  of  fmall  morrice-bells,  knives, 
beads,  k)okIr>g-glaffes,  leaden  piftures,  and  other  toys,  together 
wilh  feveriil  loaves  of  bread.  They  buried  the  timber  of  the 
fort  where  it  could  be  eafilv  found  next  year  ;  and  fowcd  corn, 
peafc,  and  other  grain,  by  way  of  experiment,  to  know  what 
tiic  country  would  produce.  Having  taken  thefc  precautions, 
they  iailcd  from  thence  in  the  beginning  of  September;  and 
after  a  month's  flormy  paffage,  arrived  in  England  :  but  this 
noble  dcfign  was  never  prolccutcd. 

Chriftian  IV.  king  of  Dcn:nark,  being  defirous  of  difcover- 
ing  the  old  Greenland  fettlemcnt,  feut  three  fhips  thither,  under 
the  command  of  captain  Godflte  Lindenow,  who  is  laid  to  have 
reached  the  eaft  coalt  of  Greenland,  where  he  traded  with  the 
lavage  inhabitants,  Itich  as  they  are  ftill  found  in  the  weflern 
diftri6^,  but  faw  no  figns  of  a  civilized  people.  Had  he  aflually 
landed  in  the  eaftcrn  divifijon,  he  mull  have  perceived  fomc 
remains  of  the  ancient  colonv,  even  in  the  ruins  of  their  con- 
vents and  villages,  Lindenow  kidnapped  two  of  the  natives, 
who  were  conveyed  to  Copenhagen  ;  and  the  fame  cruel  fraud 
\vas  pra6J".iied  by  other  two  fhips  which  failed  into  Davis' 
flraits,*  where   they    djurovered  divers   fine   harbours,  and    de- 

*  Nothing  can  be  more  iahuman  and  repugnant  to  the  diflates  of  common 
juftice  than  this  praftice  of  tearing  away  poor  creatures  from  their  country, 
their  families,  and  conneGiions  ;  unlefs  we  fuppofe  them  altogether  deftitute  of 
natural  affeftion ;  ?n-d  that  this  was  not  the  calc  with  thofc  poor  Greenlanders, 
fonie  of  whom  were  brought  alive  to  Copenhagen,  appears  from  the  whole  tenor 
of  their  conduct,  upon  their  firfl  capture,  and  during  their  confinement  in  Den- 
mark. When  firfl  captivated,  they  rent  the  air  with  their  cries  and  lamentations : 
tii'y  even  leaped  into  the  fea ;  and,  when  taken  on  board,  for  fome  time  rffuf- 
ed  all  fuftemance.  Their  eyes  were  continually  turned  towards  their  dear  coun- 
,  try,  and  their  faces  always  bathed  in  tears.  Even  the  kindnefs  of  his  Danifli 
majeftv,  and  the  careffes  of  the  court  and  people,  could  not  alleviate  their  grief. 
OW  of  them  wa*  perceived  to  fhed  tears  always  when  he  faw  an  infant  ir*  the 
rao':fier's  arm.s';  a  circumflance  froni  whence  it  was  naturally  co'ncluded,  that 
he  had  left  his  wife  -with  a  young  child  in  Greenland.  Two  of  them  went  to 
fca  in  their  little  canoes  in  hofK:  of  reaching  Greenland;  but  one  of  them  was 
retaken.  0:her  two  made  the  fame  attempt ;  but  were  driven  by  a  ftorm  on  the 
coall  of  Schonen,  where  they  were  apprehended  by  the  pealants,  and  rcconyey- 
ed  L<)  Copenhagen.  One  of  them  afterwards  died  of  a  fever,  caught  in  fifhing 
pcai'l,  during  the  winter,  for  the  governor  of  Kolding.  The  reft' liv('(J"f(^me 
yerfrs  ifi  Denmark;  but  at  length,  feeing  no  profpeft  of  being  able  to  revifit 
their  native  Got^lli,ry,  they  funk  into  a  kind  of  melancholy  diforder, ,  anj^ 
exuircd.  • 


GREENLAND, 


5» 


Mghtful  meadows  covered  with  verdure.  In  fome  places  they 
are  faid  to  have  found  a  confiderabie  quantity  of  ore,  every 
hundred  pounds  of  which  yielded  twenty-fix  ounces  of  (ilver. 
The  fame  Admiral  Lindenow  made  another  voyage  to  the  coaft 
of  Greenlaad  in  the  year  1606,  direftini^  his  covirfe  to  the 
weftward  of  cape  Farewell.  He  coafted  along  the  flraits  of 
Davis,  and  having  made  fome  obfervations  on  ilie  face  of  the 
country,  the  harbours  and  illands,  returned  to  Denmark. 
Carfhen  Richards,  being  detached  with  two  fhips  on  the  fame 
tliicovery,  defcribed  the  high  lind  on  the  eaftern  fide  of  Greeii- 
land,  but  was  hindered  by  tlie  ice  from  approaching  the  fhore. 
Other  expeditions  of  the  fame  nature  have  been  planned  and 
executed  with  the  fame  bad  fuccefs,  under  the  aufpices  of  a 
Danifh  .company  of  merchants.  Two  fhips  returned  from  tiie 
weftero  pari  of  Greenland  loaded  with  a  kind  of  yellow  faud^ 
luppofed  to  contain  a  large  proportion  of  gold.  This  being 
alfayed  by  the  goldfmiths  of  Copenhagen,  was  condem.ned  ajj 
ulelefs,  and  thrown  overboard  ;  but  from  a  fniali  quantity  of 
this  fand,  which  was  referved  as  a  curioiity,  an  expert  che- 
mift  afterwards  extrafted  a  quantity  of  pure  g-old.  The  captain, 
who  brought  home  this  adventure,  was  fo  chagrined  at  his 
dilappointment,  that  he  died  of  grief,  without  having  left  any 
direftions  concerning  the  place  where  the  fand  had  been  difco- 
vered.  In  the  year  1654,  Henry  Moller,  a  rich  Dane,  equips- 
ped  a  vefl'el  under  the  command  of  David  de  Nelles,  who  failed 
to  the  weft  coaft  of  Greenland,  from  which  he  carried  off 
three  women  of  the  country.  Other  efforts  have  been  made, 
under  the  encouragement  of  the  Danilh  king,  for  the  difcovery 
and  recovery  of  the  old  Iceland  colony  in  Grrcenland  ;  but  all 
of  them  mifcarried,  and  people  began  to  look  upon  lu^'h  expe- 
ditions as  wild  and  chimerical.  At  length  the  Greenland  com- 
pany at  Bergen  in  Norw;iy,  tranfported  a  colony  to  the  weftern 
coaft,  about  the  fixtv-fourth  degree  of  latitude  ;  nnd  thele 
Norwegians  failed  in  the  year  1712,  accompanied  by  the  lj.ev..'|| 
Hans  Egede,  to  whofe  care,  ability  and  precifvon,  we  ovve<||fe 
beft  and  moft  authentic  account  of  modern  Greenland.  This 
gentleman  endeavoured  to  reach  the  eailern  diftrift,  hv  coafting 
louthwards,  and  advanced  as  far  as  tlie  Staters  Promoiitorv  :  but  the 
Icafon  of  the  year,  and  continual  ftonns,  obliged  iuin  to  return  i 
and  as  he  could  not  even  find  the  flrait  oi  Frobiflier,  he  con- 
cluded, that  no  fuch  place  ever  cxliled.  In  the  year  17-4,  a 
ihip,  being  equipped  by  the  company,  iailed  on  this  dilcovery, 
w.iih  a' view  to  land   on  the  eaft   fide  oppohte    to   Iceland-,  but 

H  - 


53  ■     GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

the  vaft  {ho?ls  of  ice,  which  bniricadoed  that  part  of  the  coaft, 
rendered  this  fchems  iinpraclicihlc.  His  Danifh  majeftv,  in 
the  3-e3r  1-728,  caufed  horfes  to  be  trnni'ported  to  Greenland, 
in  liope  that  the  iettlers  might  by  their  means  travel  over  land 
to  the  eaftern  diflrift  ;  but  the  icy  iriountains  vuere  found  im- 
pnfiable.  Finally,  Lieutenant  Richards,  in  a  fliip  which  had 
wintered  near  the  new  Danilli  colony,  attempted,  in  his  return 
to  Denmaik,  to  land  on  the  eaflern  fliore  ;  but  all  his  endea- 
vours proved  aboitivc. 

Mr.  Egede  is  of  opinion,  that  the  onlv  prafticable  method  of 
reachiup,  th.u  part  of  the  country,  will  be  to  coafl  north-about 
in  imall  vcllcls,  between  the  great  fl.tkes  of  ice  and  the  Ihore  ; 
as  tlie  Greenlanders  have  declared,  that  the  currents  continually 
n-ifhing  from  the  bays  and  inlets,  and  running  I'outh-weftwards 
along  the  fiiore,  hin4er  the  ice  from  adhering  to  the  land  ;  fo 
that  there  is  always  a  channel  open,  through  which  vedels  of 
fmall  burden  might  pafs,  efpecially  if  lodges  were  built  at  conve- 
nient diftances  on  the  fnore,  for  the  convenience  and  direftion 
of  the  adventurers. 

That  part  of  the  country  which  is  now  vifited  and  fettled  by 
the  Dnnes  and  Norwegians,  lies  between  the  fixty-fourth  and 
fixiy-eighth  degrees  of  north  htitude  ;  and  thus  f^irit  is  laid  tho 
climate  is  temperate.  In  the  fummer,  which  continues  from  the 
end  of  M;iy  to  the  middle  of  September,  the  weather  is  warrri 
and  Comfortable,  while  the  wind  blows  eaflierly  ;  though  even 
at  this  time  dorms  frequently  happen,  v/hich  rage  with  ineredi- 
h>le  violence  ;  and  the  fca  coafts  are  infefted  with  fogs  that  are 
equally  difagreeablc  and  unhealthy^  Near  the  fhore,  and  in  the 
bays  and  inlets,  the  low  land  is  clothed  with  the  mod  charming 
verdure  ;  bvit  the  inland  mountains  are  perpetually  covered  with 
ice  and  fnow.  To  the  northward  of  the  fixty-eighth  degree  of 
latitude  th.e  cold  is  prodigioully  intenfe  ;  and  towards  the  end. 
of  Auguft  ail  the  coafL  is  covered  with  ice,  which  never  thaws 
till  April  or  May,  and  lometirncs  net  till  the  latter  end  of  June. 
^■Pili^Jg  can  exiubit  a  more  dreadful,  and  at  the  fame  time  a 
more  dazzling,  appearance,  than  thofc  prodigious  mafies  of  ice 
that'i'urround  the  whole  cotR  in  various  forms,  reflefting  a  mul- 
titude of  colours  from  the  lun-beains,  and  calling  to  mind  the 
enchanted  fcencs  cf  romance.  Such  prolpefts  they  yield  in 
i'jhn  weather  ;  but  w'len  the  wind  begins  to  blow,  and  (he 
Vv'a\  cs  to  rife  in  vail  billows,  the  violent  fliocks  of  thofe  pieces 
of  ice  daftiing  againll  one  another,  fill  the  mind  with  horror. 
Greenlaad'is'leldom  vifited,  with 'thunder  and  lightning,  "bat  ths 


GREENLAND.  53 

'aurora  borealis  is  very  frequent  and  bright.  At  the  time  of  new 
and  full  moon,  the  tide  rifes  and  falls  upon  this  coafl  about 
three  fathoms  ;  and  it  is  remarkable,  that  the  fprings  and  foun- 
tains on  fhore  rife  and  fall  with  the  flux  and  reflux  of  the 
ocean. 

The  foil  of  Greenland  varies  like  that  of  all  other  mountain- 
ous countries  :  the  hills  are  very  barren,  being  indeed  frozen 
throughout  the  whole  year;  but  the  valleys  and  low  grounds, 
efpecially  near  the  fea,  are  rich  and  fruitful.  The  ancient  Nor- 
wegian chronicles  inform  us,  that  Greenland  formerly  produced 
^  great  number  of  cattle  ;  and  that  confiderable  quantities  of 
butter  and  cheefe  were  exported  to  Norway  ;  and,  on  account 
of  their  peculiar  excellency,  fet  apart  for  the  king's  ufe.  The 
fame  hiftories  inform  us,  that  feme  parts  of  the  country  yielded 
excellent  wheat  ;  and  that  large  oaks  were  found  here,  which 
carried  acorns  as  big  as  apples.  Some  of  thele  oaks  ftdl  remain 
in  the  fouthern  parts,  and  in  many  places  the  marks  of  ploughed 
land  are  eafily  perceived  :  at  prefent,  however,  the  country  is 
deftitute  of  corn  and  cattle,  though  in  many  places  it  produces 
excellent  pafture,  and,  if  properly  cultivated,  would  probably 
yield  grain  alfo.  Mr.  Egede  fowed  fome  barley  in  a  bay  adjoin- 
ing to  the  Danifh  colony  ;  it  fprang  up  fo  faft,  that  by  the  latter 
end  of  July  it  was  in  the  full  ear  ;  but  being  nipped  by  a  night 
froft,  it  never  arrived  at  maturity.  This  feed  was  brought  from 
Bergen,  where  the  fummer  is  of  greater  heat  and  duration  than 
in  Greenland  ;  but  in  all  probability  the  corri  \vhich  grows  in 
the  northern  parts  of  Norway  would  alfo  thrive  here.  Turnips 
and  coleworts  of  an  excellent  tafte  and  flavour  are  alio  produced 
here.  The  fides  of  the  mountains  near  the  bays  are  clothed 
with  wild  thyme,  which  difFules  its  fragrance  to  a  great  dillancc. 
The  herb  tormentil  is  very  common  in  this  country,  and  like- 
■  wife  many  others  not  defcribed  by  the  botanills.  Among  the 
fruits  of  Greenland  we  number  juniper-berries,  biue-bcrries, 
bil-berries  and  bramble-berries.  ^ 

Greenland  is  thought  to  contain  many  mines  of  iMtai^ 
though  none  of  them  are  wrought.  To  the  louthward  of  tha 
Danifli  colony  are  fome  appearances  of  a  mine  of  copper,  Mr. 
^Igede  once  received  a  lump  of  ore  from  one  of  the  natives, 
and  here  he  found  calamine  of  a  yellow  colour.  Ke  once  fent 
a  confiderable  quantity  of  fand  of  ^  yellow  colour,  intei-mixed 
with  flreaks  of  vermilion,  to  the  Bergen  company  :  they  pro- 
^bjyfourjd, their  account  in  this  prefent ;  for  they  defued ^}i.irn;. 


54  GENERAL  DESCRI  PTION  0  F 

by  a  letter,  to  procure  as  much  of  that  fand  as  poffible  ;  hut 
he  was  never  able  to  find  the  place  where  he  faw  the  firrt:  fpe- 
cimen.  It  was  one  of  the  fmallell  among  a  great  number  of 
iflands,  and  the  mark  he  had  let  up  was  blown  down  bv  a 
violent  ftorm  :  poffibiy  this  might  be  the  fame  mineral  of  which 
Captain  Frobiilier  brought  fo  much  to  England.  This  country 
produces  rock-cryftals  both  red  and  white,  and  whole  moun- 
tains of  the  afbeftos  or  incombuftible  flax.  Around  the  colony, 
whica  J-  known  by  the  name  of  Good  Hope,  they  find  a  kind 
of  ballard  rrarble  of  various  colours,  which  the  natives  form 
into  bowls,  lamps,  pots,  &c.  All  that  has  been  faid  of  the 
fertility  of  Gi-eenland,  however,  muft  be  underftood  only  of 
that  part  which  lies  bety/een  the  fixtieth  and  fifty-fifth  degrees 
of  latitude  :  the  moft  northern  parts  are  totally  deftitutc  of 
herbs  and  plants.  The  wretched  inhabitants  carnot  find  grafs 
in  fufficient  quantities  to  (luff  into  their  fhoet  to  keep  their  feet 
warm,  but  are  obliged  to  buy  it  from  thoie  who  inhabit  the 
more  fouthern  parts. 

The  animals  which  abound  moft.  in  Greenland  are,  rein-deer, 
foxes,  hares,  dogs  and  white  bears.  The  hares  are  of  a  white 
colour  and  very  fat  ;  the  foxes  are  of  different  colours,  white, 
greyifh  and  blueifh,  and  fmaller  than  thofe  of  Denmark  and 
Norway.  The  natives  keep  a  grea|;  number  of  dogs,  which 
are  large,  white  or  fpeckled,  and  rough,  with  ears  Handing 
upright,  as  is  the  cafe  with  all  the  dogs  peculiar  to  cold  cli- 
mates ;  they  are  timorous  and  flupid,  and  neither  bay  nor 
bark,  but  fometimes  howl  diimally.  In  the  northern  parts  the 
natives  yoke  them  in  Hedges,  which,  though  heavy  laden,  they 
will  draw  on  the  ice  at  the  rate  of  feventy  miles  iri  a  fliort 
winter's  day.  Thefe  poor  animals  are  very  ill  rewarded  for 
their  lervice,  being  left  to  provide  for  themfelves,  except  when 
their  mafters  happen  to  catch  a  great  number  of  ieals  :  on  thefe 
occafions  the  dogs  are  regaled  with  the  blood  and  entrals  ; 
Jt  other  times  they  fubfift,  like  wild  beafts,  uporj  mufcles  and 
henBlE.  Here  are  alio  found  great  numbers  of  ravens,  eagles 
of  a  prodigious  fize,  falcons  and  other  birds  of  prey  ;  and 
likewife  a  kind  of  linet,  which  warbles  very  meiodioully. 
Whales,  fword-iifli.  popoifes,  &c.  abound  on  the  coafts  ;  alio 
Holybur,  turbot,  cod,  haddock,  &c.  Tlie  more  dubious 
aViimals  alfo,  called  mermaids,  lea-ferpents  and  krakens,  laid  to 
Be  found  on  the,  toad  of  Norway,  are  iaid  likewife  to  dwell 
in  thefe Teas.  Mr.  Egeue  aftures  us,  that  in  the  year  1734,  tho 
fec-ferpent  \vaSifepn,oi]F  the  pevy,  J^anilh, colony,  and  raiie*!  ,»/.» 
headmaft'-hiijii  above  t!:c  kahce  ol   the  water. 


.     GREENLAND.  55 

The  people   who   now    inhabit    the  wcftern    coaft   of  Green- 
land,   and    who,    without    doubt,    are   the   delcendants   of    the 
ancient  Schrellings,   who  exterminated  the  firft  Iceland  colony, 
bear  a  near  refemblance  to  the  Samoiedes  and  Laplanders  in  their 
perfons,     complexions,     and     way    of     life  :     they     are     fhort, 
brawny,    and    inclined   to    corpulency,     with   broad    faces,     flat 
noies,   thick  lips,   bUck  hair  and   eyes,   and    a   yellowifh    tawny 
complexion:   they    are    for    the  moft  part  vigorous  and  healthy, 
but    remarkably    fhort-lived,    few    of  them   reaching   the   grand 
climafteric,   and  many  dying  in  their  infancy  and    in  the   prime 
of  youth  :   they  are  fubjeft  to  a  weaknefs  in   the  eyes,   occafion- 
ed    by    the   piercing  winds   and    the  gbre    of  the    Inow    in    the 
winter-time  :   the  leprofy  is  known  among  them  but  is   not  con- 
tagious.     Thofe  that  dwell   in  the  nortlierii   parts  are    miferably 
tormented  with    dylenteri»s,    rheums,   and  pulmonary  diforderi-, 
boils    and     epilepfv.        The    fmall-pox    being    impojted    among 
them  from  Copenhagen  in  the    year    1734,   made  terrible   havoc 
among   thefe    poor    people,    who    are    utterly    deftitute    of  r.ny 
knowledore    of    the    medicinal     art,    and    depend    entirely     for 
afliftance    upon    their  angekuts  or  conjurers.      In    their   difpofl- 
tions  the  Greenlanders  are  cold,  phlegmatic,   indolent  and  flow 
of  apprehenhon,   but    very    quiet,   orderly    and    good-natured  ; 
they   live  peaceably  together,   and  have  every  thing  in   common, 
without    ftrife,     envying     or     animohty  ;     they    are     civil     and 
hofpitable,    but  flovenly  to    a    degree    almoft    beyond  the    Hot- 
tentots  themlelves  ;   they    never    wafh    themfelves    with  water, 
but  lick  their  paws  like  the  cat,   and  then  rub  their  faces    with 
them.        They    eat    after    their     dogs    without     wafhing     their 
diihes  •,   devour  the  lice  which  devour  them  :   and    even  ligk  the 
fweat  which  they  fcrape  off  from    their   faces  with  their  knives. 
The  women    wafli   themfelves  with  their  own  urine,  which  they 
imagine  makes  their  hair  grow,  and  in  the  winter- time  go  out  imme- 
diately after,   to   let    the  liquor  freeze   upon    their    ikin.      They 
will  often  eat  their  viftuals  off  the   dirty   ground,   withoutd«ny 
veffel  to    hold    it   in,   and  devour    rotten    flefli  with  the  grSRil 
aridity.      In  times  of  Icarcity  they  will  (ubfiu;  on  pieces  of  old. 
lkin,'reeds,    fea-wced,     and    a    root    called    tugloronet,    dreilcd 
with  train  oil  and  fat.      The  dung  of  rein-deer   taken  from    the 
inteflines^   the  entrails  of  partridges,  and  all   forts  of  offals,   are 
courited    d'aintics   anOong    thele    favages  ;   and    of  the    i't:rapling<> 
of  fdals-fkins  they  make    delicate   pancskc:;.      At  f^rfl  they  could 
not   tafte    the    Danifh  provilions  without    abhorrence,   but    no\>- 
th«y'are   become  extremely  fond  of  bread   and  butter,  though 


^6  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION    OF 

they  ftill  Jetuin  an  averfion  to  tobacco  and  fpirituous  liquors .5 
in,  which  particular  they  differ  from  qlmofl  all  favages  or>  the 
face  of  the  earth. 

The  Greenlanders  commonly  content  themfelves  with  one 
wife',  who-is  condemned,  as  among  other  favage  nations,  to  do 
ah  the  drud2;ery,  and  may  be  correfted,  or  even  divorced,  by 
the  hufband  at  pleafure.  Heroes,  however,  and  extraordinary 
perfonages,  are  indulged  with  a  plurality  of  wives.  Their  young 
■women  are  generally  chaflc  and  bafliful  ;  but  at  fome  of  their 
feafts,  in  the  midll  of  their  jollity,  a  man  retires  with  his  neigh- 
bour's wife  behind  a  curtain  made  of  fkins;  and  all  the  guefts, 
thus  coupled,  retire  in  their  turns.  The  women  think  them- 
felves happy  if  an  angekut  or  prophet  will  thus  honour  them 
with  his  carefies.  Thcfe  people  never  marry  within  the  prohiw 
bited  degrees  of  confanguinity,  nor  is  it  counted  decent  in  a 
couple  to  marry  who  have  been  educated  in  the  fame  family. 
They  have  a  number  of  ridiculous  and  fuperflitious  cufloms  ; 
among  which  the  two  following  are  the  moft  remarkable  ; — - 
While  a  woman  is  in  labour,  the  goiTips  hold  a  chamber-pot 
over  her  head,  as  a  charm  to  haflcn  the  delivery.  When  the 
child  is  a  year  old,  the  mother  licks  and  fiabbers  it  all  over,  to 
render  it,   as  fbe  imagines,  more  flrong  and  hardy. 

All  the  Greenlanders  hitherto  known,  fpeak  the  fame  language, 
though  different   dialefts   prevail  in  different  parts  of  the  coun- 
try:   it  abounds  with  double  confonants,   and  is  fo  guttural,  that 
the  pronunciation  of  many  words  is  not  to  be  learned  except  by 
thofe  who  have  been  accuftomed  to  it  from  their  infancy.    ,  Tl\e 
iettefs  C,    D,    F,    Q  and  X,   are  not  known    in    their   alphabet. 
Like  the  North- Americans,  and  inhabitants  of  Kamfchatka,  they 
have  a  areat  number  of  long  polyfyllables.      Their  words,  nouris 
as  well  as  verbs,  are  infleftcd  at  the  end  by   var\-ing    the   termi- 
nations without  the  help  of  articles;  but    their   language    being 
found  dcfeftive,  they  have  adopted  a  good  many  wor4s,ijFron;i  the 
'NfflE*vegian    dialeft.      Notwithflanding    the    endeavours  of  ^th'e 
DHwh  miffioj^aries,  they  have  no  great  reafon    to   boaft   of    the 
;prt>felytcs  they  have  made  of  the  natives^pf  :.Greenla,nd. .    Thefc 
■fSV^ages  pay  great  deference  and  relpeft  to-;  tiic  Danes,  -whom  ia- 
;,deed    they    obey  as  their    mailers,   and   he?r- the-  tiH«hs- of  the 
j.Qhriftian  religion  expounded  without  doubting  'the  "verTicfty^bf 
?lh.<?.ir  teachers  •,; but   at  the  fame  time  they  Ijilen  with  the  ti^oft 
mortifying  indifference,   without  ^bflingoir>rt,lie  lea{l,,.in£^\iejpj^ed 
by  what  they  have  heard.      They  believe  in  the   immortality  of 
the  foul,  and  the  exiftcnce  of  a  Ipirit  whom  ihey    call  Torngar- 


C  R  E  E  N  L  A   N  D.  57 

fuck,    but    of  whom    they    have    formed    the    moft    ridiculous 
notions.*     The    Angekuts,  who   arc  fuppofcd    to    be  his    immc- 


*  The  firft  niinionarics  among  the  Greeiila:id£rs  entertained  a  doiibf  whether 
they  had  any  conception  of  a  Divine  Being,  as  thg|iy:iad  no  word  in  their  lan- 
guage by  which  to  defignate  him.  When  they  were  afkcd  who  inade  the  heaven 
and  earth,  and  all  vifible  things?  their  anfwer  was — "  We  know  not;  or, 
■we  do  not  know  him ;  or,  it  muft  have  been  fomc  mighty  perfon  :  or,  things 
always  have  been  as  they  are,  and  will  always  remain  to."  But  when  they  un- 
derftood  their  lang.uage  better,  they  found  they  had  fome  vague  notioiis^coiv- 
cerning  the  foul  and  fpirits,  and  were  felicitous  about  the  ftate  after  death.  It 
was  evident  alio  that  they  had  fome  faint  conceptions  of  a  Divine  Being. 

They  believe  in  the  doftrine  of  the  tranfmigration  of  fouls — that  the  foul  is  a 
fpiritual  effence  quite  different  from  the  body — that  it  needs  no  corporeal 
nourifhnaent — that  it  furvives  the  body,  and  lives  in  a  future  better  ftate,  whic^i 
they  believe  will  never  end.  But  they  have  very  different  ideas  of  this  itate, 
}J!any  place  their  Elyfium  in  the  abyffes  of  the  ocean,  or  the  bowels  oi  the 
earth,  and  think  the  deep  cavities  of  the  rocks  are  avenues  leading  to  ir.  There 
dwells  Torngarfuck  and  his  mother  ;  there  a  joyous  fummer  is  perpetuai,  and  a 
ihining  fun  is  obfcured  by  no  night;  there  is  the  limpid  ftrcara,  and  abundance 
of  foWls,  fifhes,  rein-deer,  and  their  beloved  feals,  and  thefe  are  all  to  be 
caught  without  toil,  nay,  they  are  even  found  in  a  great  kettle  boiling  alive. 
But  to  thefe  delightful  feats  none  muft  approach  but  thofc  who  have  been  dex- 
trous and  diligent  at  their  work,  (for  this  is  their  grand  idea  of  virtue)  that 
have  performed  great  exploits,  and  have  mattered  many  whale.s  and  feals,  have 
undergone  great  hardfhips,  have  been  drowned  in  the  lea,  or  died  in  cliildbod. 
The  difembodied  fpirit  does  not  enter  dancing  into  the  Elyfian  fields,  but  mult 
fpend  five  whole  days,  fome  fay  longer,  in  Aiding  down  a  rugged  rock,  which 
is  thereby  fmeared  with  blood  and  gore.  Thofe  unfortunate  fouls  which  are 
obliged  to  perform  this  rough  journey  in  the  cold  winter,  or  in  boiftcrous  wea- 
ther, are  peculiar  objefts  of  their  pity,  becaufe  they  may  be  calily  dcftroyed  on 
the  road,  which  deflruftion  they  call  the  fecond  death,  and  dcfcribe  it  as  a 
perfeft  extinftion,  and  this,  to  them,  is  the  moll  dreadful  confideration.  There- 
fore during  thefe  five  days  or  more,  the  furviving  relations  muft  abftain  from 
certain  meats,  and  from  all  noify  work,  except  the  neceil'ary  fifbing,  that  the  ioul 
may  not  be  difturbed  or  perifh  in  its  perilous  paffage.  From  all  which,  it  is 
plain,  that  the  Grcenlanaers,  ftupid  as  they  have  been  reprefented,  hayp  in 
idea  that  the  good  will  be  rewarded,  and  the  bad  punilhed,  and  that  they  con- 
ceive a  horror  at  the  thought  of  the  entire  annihilation  of  the  foul. 

Others  have  their  paradife  among  the  celeftial  bodies,  and  they  imagine  tlieir 
flight  thither  fo  eafy  and  rapid,  that  the  foul  refts  the  fame  evening  in  the  man- 
fion  of  the  moon,  who  was  a  Greenlander,  and  there  it  can  dance  and  play  at 
ball  with  the  reft  of  the  fouUi  for  they  think  tbe -northern  lights  to  be  che  daaire 
of  fporfive  fouls.  The  fouls  in  this  paradife  are  pl^ed  in  tents  round  a  vaft 
lake  abounding  wi{)i  fifh  and' fowl.  When  this  lake  oveirtlows  it  rains  on  the 
ciHh;  but  fnoyld'tihe  dam  once  break,  ther.e  would  be  £  g-?i^eral,  deluji;:-. 


o8  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

diate  miniflers,  differ  concerning  the  principles  of  his  exiftencej 
fome  affirming  that  he  is  without  form  or  fhape  ;  others,  that  he 
1Bas  the  fhapc  of  a  bear  ;  others,  that  he  has  a  large  human  body 
xvith  Giiiy  one  arm:  while  others  affirm,  that  he  is  no  larger 
than  a  manV^fiogcr,  with  many  other  abfurdities  of  a  fimilar 
kind.  They  haye  alfin  peculiar  kind  of  mythology,  by  which 
they  believe  all  the  elements  to  be  full  of  fpirits,  from  among 
which  every  one  of  their  prophets  is  fupplied  with  a  familiar 
which  they  name  Torngack,  and  who  is  always  ready  when 
iummcned  to  his  alTi (lance. 

*  The  Grecnlandcrs  are  employed  all  the  year  round  either  in 
fifliing  or  hunting.  At  fea  they  purfue  the  whales,  morfes, 
leals,  fifli  for  eating,  and  iea  fowl.  On  fhore  they  hunt  the 
rein-deer  in  dilfcrcnt  parts  of  the  country:  they  drive  thefe 
animals,  which  feed  in  large  herds,  into  a  narrow  circle  or  de- 
nie,  wh'jre  they  are  cafily  flain  with  arrows.  Their  bow  is 
made  of  fir-tree,  wound  about  with  the  twifled  fmews  of  ani- 
mals ;  the  firing  is  compoled  of  the  fame  fluff,  or  of  fcal  fkin  ; 
the  arrow  is  a  good  fajhom  in  length,  pointed  with  a  bearded 
ifon,  or  a  fharp  bone  ;  but  thofe  with  which  they  kill  birds  are 
blunt,  tliat  thev  may  hot  tear  the  flefh.  Sea  fowls  they  kill 
■with  lances,  which  ihcy  threw  to  a  great  diftance  with  lurpriiing 
dexterity.  Their  manner  of  catching  whales  is  quite  different, 
from  that  praftifcd  by  the  Europeans:  about  fifty  perfons,  men 
and  women,  fct  out  in  one  long  boat,  which  is  called  a  kone 
boat^  from  kone  a  "  woman,"  becaufe  it  is  rowed  by  females  only. 
When  they  find  a  whale,  they  flrike  him  with  harpoons,  to  which 
arc  faftcncd  with  long  lines  fome  feal  fkins  blown  up  like  blad- 
ders. TJicIe,  by  floating  on  the  furface,  not  only  difccver  the 
b.ick  of  the  whale,  but  hinder  him  from  diving  under  water  for 
any  length  of  time.  They  continue  to  puriue  hira  until  he 
Iv.lcb  fti  ength,  when  they  pierce  him  with  ipcars  and  lances  till 
he  expires.  On  this  occafion  they  are  clad  in  their  fpring  coats, 
corififling  of  one  piece,  with  gloves,  bonts,  and  caps  made  of 
fcal  Win   fo  clolely  laced  and  fewed  that    they   keep   cut    water. 

The  -wifer  Grcenlanders,  who  confider  the  foul  as  a  fpiritual  immaterial  ef- 
fcnoe,  laugh  at  all  this,  and  fay,  it  there  (hould  be  fuch  a  material,  luxuriant 
paradife,  wlicre  iouls  could  entertain  themfelves  with  hunting,  dill  it  can  only 
tndure  for  a  time;  afterwards  the  fouls  will  certainly  be  conveyed  to  the  peace- 
ful manlions :  but  they  know  not  what  their  food  or  employinent  will  be.  Oa 
the'otherhand,  they  place  their  hell  in  the  I'ubterraneous  regions,  which  are  de- 
void of  light  and  heat,  and  filled  with  perpetual  terror  and  anxiety.  T^ig^Jaft 
forV  of  people  lead  a  regalar  life,  and  refrain  from  every  thing  they  think  is 
rvif.'--^' '    '■"■"■■-■ 


GREENLAND. 


59 


TThus  accoutred,  they  leap  into  the  fea,  and  begin  to  fllo^ofF  the 
fat,  even  under  water,  before  the  whale  is  dead.  They  hr>ve 
many  different  ways  of  killing  feals  ;  namely,  by  ftiiking,  them 
"with  a  fmall  harpoon  equipped  alfo  with  an  air  bag;  by  watch- 
ing them  when  they  come  to  breathe  at  the  air-holes  in,  the  ice, 
and  ftriking  them  with  fpears  ;  by  approaching  them  in  tii,€  dif- 
guife  of  their  own  fpecies,  that  is,  covered  with  a  feal  flvin, 
creeping  upon  the  ice,  and  moving  the  head  from  fide  to  fide  as 
the  fea  Is  are  accuftomed  to  6.0.  By  this  flratagem  the  Greeny 
lander  moves  towards  the  uii(urpe6lirig  feil,  and  kills  him  with 
a  fpear.  The  Greenlanders  angle  with  lines  made  of  whalebone 
cut  very  fmall,  by  means  of  winch  they  fuccecd  wonderfully. 
The  Greenland  canoe,  like  that  ufed  in  Nova-Zembla  and  Ilud- 
fon's  bay,  is  about  three  fathoms  in  length,  pointed  at  both  ends, 
and  three  quarters  of  a  yard  in  breadth';  it  is  cbmpofcd  of  thin 
rafts  faftened  together  with  the  finews  of  animals.  It  is  covered 
with  drelTed  feal-(k.ins  both  below  and  above,  in  fuch  a  manner 
that  only  a  circular  hole  is  left  in  the  middle,  large  enough  to 
admit  the  body  of  one  rnan.  Into  this  the  Greenlander  thrufts 
himfelf  up  to  the  waift,  and  fallens  the  fkin  fo  tight  about  him 
that  no  water  can  enter.  Thus  iecured,  and  armed  with  a  pad- 
dle broad  at  both  ends,  he  will  venture  out  to  fea  In  the  mod 
ftormy  weather  fo  catch  feals  and  fea-fovl;  and  if  he  is  overfet, 
he  can  eafily  raife  himfelf  by  means  of  his  paddle.  A  Green- 
iander  in  one  of  thefe  canoes,  which  was  brousjht  with  him  to 
Copenhagen,  outftripped  a  pinnace  of  fixteen  oars,  manned  • 
with  choice  mariners.  The  kone  boai  is  made  of  the  (ame  ma- 
terials, but  more  durable,  and  fo  large  thjt  it  will  contiin  fifty 
perfons  with  all  their  tackle,  baggrige  and  provifions  :  fhe  is 
fitted  with  a  maft,  which  carries  a  triangular  hiil  made  of  the 
infembranies  anid  entrails  of  feals,  and  is  m^naiied  without  the 
hdp'of  braces  and  bowlings:  thele  kones  are  fl:it-hottomeu,  and 
fofrietimes  fixty  feet  in  length.  The  men  think  it  beneath  thein 
to  take  charge  of  them,  and  therefore  they  are  left  to  tlie  con- 
duct'  of  the  women,  who  indeed  are  obliged  to  do  all  tJie 
drudgery,,,^.inqvi,}d.!r)^  even  the  building  and  repairing  their 
houfes,  -while  the  men  employ  themlelves  wholly  in  preparing 
their  hunting  "implements  and  hlhing  tackle. 

Thl^  cou'nt*}-y'  i^"but   thinly  inhabited.*      In  the  winter   time 
the-;'people.  dwell  in  huts    b-ailt   of   flone   or  turf;   on    the   one 

*  Mofl  of  the  Grccnlanders  live  to   the   fouthv.-:rd  of  the  f:xty-fccond  degree 
of  north  latitude,  or  as  the  inhabitants  arc  wont  to  lay,  in  the  fouth;  but  no 

I    £ 


Co  C  E XE  R  AL  DESC  R  TPTION'  0  F 

fvde  arc  the  windows,  covered  with  the  ficins  of  feals  or  rein- 
deer. Several  rimilies  live  in  one  of  thefe  houfes,  poflefling 
earh  a  fcparate  apartment,  before, which  is  a  hearth  with  a  great 
lamp  pl;)ced  on  a  trevit,  over  which  hangs  their  kettle  ;  above 
is^aracU  or  fhelf.Gn. which,  their  wet  clothes  are  dried.  They 
burn.traiji  oil  in  their  lamps,  and  for  a  wick  they  ufe  a  kind 
fi^  JTjoQi^'^yhich  f.illv  anrvvcrs  the  purpofc.  Thefe  lamps  are 
rot  pjil^^.f^f!icient  to  boil  their  viftuals,  but  likewife  produce 
lurh  a  Jicat,  that  the  wliole  hnufe  is  like  a  bagnio.  The  door  is 
very  low,,  that  as  liitlc  cold  air  as  poflTible  may  be  admitted.  The 
},.o.ure  v,:!thii^.is  lined  with  old  flcins,  and  furrounded  with  benches 
f'.)r  the  convcnicncy  of  flrangers.  In  the  fummcr  time  they 
dwell  i:,  tents  ni.ide  of  long  poles  fixed  in  a  conical  form,  cover- 
ed in.thc  infidc  \vith  deer  fkins,  and  on  the  outfidc  with  ieals 
fkins,  drcfled-  fo  as  that  tiie  rain  cannot  pierce  them. 

Y.  A  S  T    G  Pv  E  E  N  L  A  N  D. 

^  L'lft-Q-reenland  was  for  a  long  time  confidered  as  a  part  of 
tl)c  continent  of  Weft  Greenland,  but  is  now  difcoverevi  to  be 
STii  affemblige  of  ifjnnds  lying  between  'j6<->  46' and  80^  30' "^ 
r.orth  laii^tude,  and  between  g°  and  20*'  of  eafl  longitude.  It 
wasdircovered  by  Sir  Hugh  Willoughby  in  the  year  1553,  ^^^o 
Cijne(J  it  Grgfeilind,  liippofing  it  to  be  a  part  of  the  weftern 
ionffnent.  In  15,95,  it  was  again  vifued  by  William  Bjrentz 
and  ]nhrt  Corneiius,  tvvjo  Dutchmen,  who  pretended  to  be  the 
^iginaj  Gi,fc*oycrerSj     and    c:.llcd    the   country    Spitzbergen,     or 


|.urop?acs   livr;  th^r;,  fo  that   tbrfc  part^s  ar-^  bi:t  littV*  knov,'n.     The   European 
fftlp^ifs  have   fi^ed  thenifelves   to  thn   nortl^iwaid  of  the  fixty-fccond  degree  of 


■'■?C- fai^or.,  who  livc^  many  yars  in  the  country,  and  wliofe  accuracy,  as  f;ir 
^;j(ht?  fuhj?"^  will  admit,  niay  be  depended  on,  found,  in  the  compafi  of  forty 
,]^«g«fsj  ;T«r!iicli -was  the  civcle  of  his  dfalings,  nine  hundred  and  fifty-feven 
/."".nttant  r"rid-'nts,  t>'~rid"s  occafioiial  vifitors.  This  part  of  Greenland  is  the 
Vi'.ol}  populous,  except  Difk.o  bay,  which  is  the  bcft  place  for  trade,  and  the 
r')u"i1iertf^ar;s.  lii  other  places,  an  individual  may  tr:ivcl  fixty  miles  and  not 
'j.'iiect- •w'Wli  V'-finglr  p"r!on.  Snppofc,  however,  that  the  country  is  inhabited 
'^T'~rhDr'lp>i¥n  <if.  four' hundred  leagues,  an4  ••''9t  titere  are  o^e  thoufand  foulif 
.2;^»>fv?y?Ty' f)4i"iy  Ip^l^es,  the  a"'nouut   would  be   ten  thou.fund.    , The  aboYC-^rncn- 

■iioncd  fafl'ir, thinks,  that  there  arc  not  more  than  fc^ven  thoufand,  becaufe  there 

-fir.  :i.Or.    V.,;  .ic,^    irri..  ■  •  -  •  ■       ' 

^  ar,'  fo  mTOy  d^inft  places.     He  affrrrs,  indeed,  that  the  native  Grecnlandcrs,  in 

^V?*^^-''^''"^""^'--'^'  to   thlrry  thou  find  ;  aud'^vi^'hcn  he  mad. =  his  firft  Calculation  iq 

-\iy4S-'  tbel-ff=  Ver*' ftfli'  twvrity  thoufand^    cbnfo<]ivently,  fnice  that  timeythsit 

-iiaasbOT'J'ws'diaiiiBilhed  at  icaft  oivc-!-aJf'.    '     '  '    '" 


GREENLAND.  6t 

Sharp    Mountains,    from    the   many   fharp    pointed   and  rocky 
mountains    with    which   it   abounds.     They   alledged,  that    the 
coaft  dilcovered  by  Sir  Hugh  Willoughby  was  fome  other  coun- 
try ;    which    accordingly   the    Hollanders    delineated   on   their 
maps  and  charts  by   the   name   of  Willoughby    Land  ;  whereas 
i-a  faft  no   fuch   land  ever   exifted  ;  and  long  before  the  voyage 
of  thefe   Dutchmen,  Stephen   Barrows,  an  Englifh  ftiipmafler, 
had  coafted  along    a   defolate  country    from   north    latitude   78® 
to   80^    1 1 ',  which    was   undoubtedly  Spitzbergen.     The  fea  in 
the     neighbourhood     of    the     iflands    of    Spitzbergen   abounds 
very    much   with   whales,     and  is   the    common   refort    of  the 
vvhale-fi{hing   fhips    from  different   countries,  and  the   country 
itfelf    is    frequently    vifited   by   thefe    fhips ;    but    till    the    late 
voyage    of  the   Hon.  Capt.  Phipps,  by    order   of    his    Majefty, 
the  fituation  of  it  was  erroneoufly  laid   down.     It  was  imagined 
that  the  land   ftretched  to  the  northward  as  far  as  82°  of  north 
latitude  ;  but   Capt.  Phipps   found  the  moft  northerly  point  of 
land,  called  Seven  Iflands,  not    to  exceed   80"   30'  of  latitude. 
Towards    the   caft    he   faw   other  lands   lying    at    a  diftance,  fo 
that    Spitzbergen   plainly   appeared   to  be   furrounded  by  water 
on    that    fide,    and    not   joined    to   the   continent   of     Afia,    as 
former  navigators  had   fuppofed.     The  north  and    weft   coafts 
alfo  he  explored,  but  was  prevented   by  the  ice  from  failing  fo 
far  to  the  northward   as  he  wifhed.      The  coaft  appeared  neither 
habitable    nor    acceflible  ;     it    is  formed    of  high,  barren,  black 
rocks,  without    the  leaft  marks  of  vegetation ;    in  many  places 
bare    and    pointed,    in    others    covered    with    fnow,    appearing 
even   above  the   clouds.     The  valleys  between  the  high    cliffs 
were  filled    with   fnow  and   ice.     "  This  profpeft,"  fays  Capt. 
rhipps,  *'  would  have  fuggefted  the   idea  of  perpetual  winter, 
had  not  the  mildnels  of  the  weather,  the  fmooth   water,  bright 
fun-fliine,    and    conftant    day-light,    given    a    ch^erfulnefs    and 
novelty   to  the   whole  of  this    romantic   fcene."     The    current 
ran  along  this   coaft  half  a   knot   an   hour,  north.     The  height 
of  one  mountain  feen  here   was  found,  by  geometrical  menfura- 
tipn,,  to   be    at  one  time  one  thoufand   five  hundred  and    three 
.|"^et-^d  a  half,  at  another  one  thoufand  five  hundred  and  three 
feet  and  eight-tenths.  By  a  baronjeter  conftrufted  after  De  Luc's 
method,    the   height  was  found  to  be  one  thoufand  five  hundred 
ari.d  eighty-eight  feet  and  a  half.     On  this  occafion  Capt.  Phipps 
has  the  following  remarks  ;   "  I  cannot  account  for  the  great  dif- 
ference  between    the  geometrical   meafure  and  the  barometrical 
-  according  to  M.  De  Luc's  calculation,   which  amounts  to  eighty- 
four  feet    feven  inches.     I   have  no   reafon  to  doubt  the  accu- 


6^  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION  OF 

racy  of  Dr.  Irving's  obfcrvations,  which  were  made  with  great 
care.  As  to  the  geometrical  meafure,  the  agreement  of  fo  many 
iriangles,  each  of  which  rnuft.  have  difcovered  even  the  Imalleft 
^rror,  is  the  moft  fatisfaftory  proof  of  its  correftnefs.  Since 
!fiy  return,  1  have  tried  both  the  theodolite  and  barometer,  to 
difcover  whether  there  was  any  fault  in  either,  and  find  them, 
upon  trial,  as  I  had  always  done  before,   very  accurate." 

There  is  good  anchorage  in  Schmeerenhurgh  harbour,  lying' 
in  north  latitude  -74?  44^,  eaft  longitude  cj**  50'  45'/,  in  thirteen 
fathoms,  fandy  bottom,  not  far  from  the  fhore,  and  well  fhel- 
fered  from  all  winds.  Clofe  to  this  harbour  is  \n  ifland  called 
Amfterdam  Iflmd,  where  the  Dutch  ufcd  formerly  to  boll  their 
whale  oil  ;  and  the  remains  of  fome  conveniency  erefted  by  them 
for  that  purpofe  are  flill  vifible.  The  Dutch  fhips  ftill  refort 
to  this  place  for  the  latter  fealon  of  the  whale  fifhery. — The 
ilone  about  this  place  is  chiefly  a  kind  of  marble,  which  dil- 
folves  eafily  in  the  marine  acid.  There  were  no  appearance  of 
minerals  of  any  klnd^  nor  any  figns  of  ancient  or  modern  vol- 
canoes. No  infe£ts,  nor  any  fpecies  of  reptiles  were  leen,  not 
even  the  common  earth  worm.  There  were  no  fprings  or  rivers, 
but  great  plenty  of  water  was  produced  from  the  inow  which 
fnclted  on  the  mountains. 

The  moft  remarkable  views  which  thefe  dreary  regions  pre- 
sent, are  thofe  called  Icebergs.  They  are  large  bodies  of  ice 
filing  the  valleys  between  the  high  mountains  :  their  face  to- 
wards the  fea  is  nearly  perpendicular,  and  of  a  very  lively  licrht 
green  colour.  One  was  about  three  hundred  feet  high,  with  a 
c.^fcade  of  water  iffuing  from  it.  The  black  mountains  on  each 
fide,  the  white  fnow,  and  greenifh  coloured  ice,  compoled  a  very 
beautiful  and  romantic  pifture.  Large  pieces  frequently  broke 
off  from  the  icebergs,  and  fell  with  great  noiie  into  the  water  : 
one  piece  was  oblerved  to  have  floated  out  into  the  bay,  and 
grounded  in  tweoty-four  fathoms  ;  it  was  fifty  feet  high  above 
the  furface  of  the  water,  and  of  the  fame  beautiful  colour  with 
the  iceberg  from  which  it  had  feparated. 

Thefe  ifiands  are  totally  uninhabited,  though  it  doth  not.  ap- 
pear but  that  human  creatures  could  fubRft  on  them,  nptwith- 
flanding  their  vicinity  to  the  pole.  Eight 'Englifli  failors,  who 
were  accidentally  left  here  by  a  wii?le-hfliing  Inip,  furvivcd  tlic 
winter,  and  were  brought  home  next  leafon.  The  Dutch  then 
attempted  to  fettle  a  colony  on  Amfterdam  ifland  above  men- 
tioned, but  all  the  people  periflied,  not  through  the  feverity  of 
the   climate,  but  of  the   fcurvy,   owing   to   the    want   of   thofe 


GREENLAND.  63 

remedies  which  are  now  happily  difcovered,  and  which  are 
found  to  be  fo  effeftual  in  preventing  and  curing  that  dreadful 
diieaie.  The  late  account  alfo  of  fix  Ruffian  failors,  who  {laid 
four  years  in  this  inhofpitable  country,  affords  a  decifive  proof 
that  a  colony  might  be  fettled  oil  Eaft-Greenland,  provided  the 
doing  fo  could  anfvver  any  good  purpofe. 

A  Greenland  company  was  formed  in  London  in  the  year 
1693.  A  joint  ftock  of  forty  thoufand  pounds  was  by  flrtute 
to  be  raifed  by  fublcribers,  who  were  incorporated  for  fourteen 
years  from  the  firfl  day  of  Oftober  in  that  year  ;  and  the  com- 
pany to  ule  the  trade  of  catching  whales,  &c.  to  and  from 
Greenland,  and  the  Greenland  leas  ;  they  may  make  bye-laws 
for  the  government  of  the  perfons  employed  in  their  fhips,  &c. 
Stat.  4  &  5  W.  III.  cap,  I'y.  This  company  was  farther  en- 
couraged by  parliament  in  1696;  but  partly  by  unfkilful  ma- 
nagement, and  partly  by  real  lolfes,  it  was  under  a  necellity  of 
entirely  breaking  up,  before  the  expiration  of  the  term  affigned 
to  it,  ending  in  i'jo'].  But  any  perfon  who  will  adventure  to 
Greenland  for  whale-fifhing,  has  all  privileges  granted  to  the 
Greenland  company,  by  1  Anne,  cap.  16.  and  thus  the  trade 
was  again  laid  open.  Any  fubjefts  may  import  whale-fins,  oil, 
&c.  of  fifh  caught  in  the  Greenland  feas,  without  paying  any 
cuftoms,  &c.  Stat.  10  Geo.  I.  cap.  16.  And  fhips  employed 
in  the  Greenland  fifhery  are  to  be  of  fuch  burden,  provided 
with  boats,  fo  many  men,  fifbing  lines,  harping  irons,  &c, 
and  be  licenfed  to  proceed  ;  and  on  tlieir  return  are  paid  twenty 
fliillings  per  ton  bounty,  for  whale-fins,  &c.  imported  ;  6  Geo. 
II.  cap.  33.  The  bounty  was  afterwards  increafed,  but  has 
been  lately  diminiflied,  and  fince  this  diminution  the  trade  has 
increafed. 


(     64     ) 


HISTORY 


OF    THE 


SPANISH  DOMINIONS 


NORTH-AMERICA, 


—  ■«-<"«44*  ^  •>»">'•>- 


EAST  AND  WEST-FLORIDA, 


SITUATION,  BOUNDARY  AND  EXTENT. 


E, 


<AST  and  Weft- Florida  are  fituated  between  25^  and  31* 
north  latitude,  and  5^  and  17°  weft  longitude  from  Philadelphid; 
the  length  is  about  fix  hundred  miles,  and  the  breadth  about  one 
hundred  and  thirty.  They  are  bounded  north,  by  Georgia  ;  eaft, 
by  the  Atlantic  ocean ;  fouth  by  the  gulph  of  Mexico ;  weft,  by 
the  Mifliflippi;  lying  in  the  form  of  an  L.  The  climate  varies 
very  little  from  that  of  Georgia.  Florida  was  firft  difcovered  in 
'497?  ^y  Sebaftian  Cabot,  a  Venetian,  then  in  the  Englifh  fer- 
vice  ;  whence  a  right  to  the  country  was  claimed  by  the  kings  of 
England  ;  and  this  territory,  as  well  as  Georgia,  was  included  in 
the  charter  granted  by  Charles  II,  to  Carolina.  In  i^\2^  how- 
ever, Florida  was  more  fully  difcovered  by  Ponce  de  Leon,  an 
able  Spanifti  navigator,  but   who  undertook  his  voyage  from  the 


HAST  AND  WEST^FLORIDA.  65 

tnoll  abfurd  motives  that  can  well  be  imagined.  The  Indians  of 
the  Caribbee  iflands  had  among  th^m  a  tradition,  that  fomewhere 
on  the  continent  there  was  a  fountain,  \thofe  waters  had  the 
property  of  refloring  youth  to  all  old  men  who  tafted  them» 
The  romantic  imaginations  of  the  Spaniards  were  delighted 
with  the  idea.  Many  embarked  in  voyages  to  find  out  this 
imaginary  fountain,  who  were  never  afterwards  heard  of* 
Their  fuperftitious  countrymen  never  imagined  that  thefe  peo- 
ple had  peridied.  They  concluded  that  they  did  not  return, 
only  becaule  they  h*d  drank  of  the  immortalizing  liquor,  and 
had  difcovcred  a  fpot  fo  delightful,  that  they  did-tiM  choofe  to 
leave  it.  Ponce  de  Leon  fet  out  with  this  extravagant  vieW 
as  well  as  others,  fully  perfuaded  of  the  exiftence  of  a  third 
world,  the  conquefl  of  which  was  to  immortalize  his  name. 
In  the  attempt  to  difcover  this  country,  he  re-difcovercd  Florida, 
but  returned  vifibly  more  advanced  in. years  than  when  he  fet 
out  on  his  voyage.  For  fome  time  this  country  was  neglefted 
by  the  Spaniards,  and  fome  Frenchmen  fettled  in  it.  But 
the  new  colony  being  neglefted  by  the  miniftry,  and  Philip  II. 
of  Spain  having  acci/ftomedhimfelf  to  think  that  he  was  the  fole 
proprietor  of  America,  fitted  out  a  fleet  at  Cadiz  to  deftroy 
them.  His  orders  were  executed  with  barbarity  ;  the  French 
entrenchments  were  forced,  and  mod  of  the  people  killed. 
The  prifoners  were  hanged  on  trees,  with  this  infcription, 
"  Not  as  Frenchmen,  but  as  heretics." 

The  cruelty  was  foon  after  revenged  by  Dominic  de  Gour- 
gueS,  a  fkilful  and  intrepid  feaman  of  Gafcony,  an  enemy  to 
the  Spaniards,  and  paflTionately  fond  of  hazardous  expeditions 
and  glory.  He  fold  his  eftates,  built  fome  fhips,  and  with  a 
feleft  band  of  adventurers,  like  hinfffelf,  embarked  for  Florida. 
He   drove   the   Spaniards   from   all   their  pofls   with    incredible 

*  valour  and  aftivity,  defeated  them  in  every  rencounter,  and 
hy  wny  of  retaliation,  hung  the  prifoners  on  treeSj  with  this 
inicription,  "  Not  as  Spaniards,  but  as  afTaffins."  This  expe-» 
dition- was  attended  with  no  other  confequences  5  Gourgues 
blew  up  the  forts  he  had  taken,  and  returned  home,  where  no 
notide  'was  taken  of  him.  It  was  again  conquered  in  1509, 
by  the  Spaniards  under  Ferdinand  de  Soto,  not  v^ithout  a  great 
deal  of  bioodfhcd,  as  the  natives  were  ver^  warUke,  and  made 
a  vigorous-  refiftance.  The  fettlement,  howev&r,  was  not  fully 
eft'abliflicd  till,  the  year  1665;  "wh^n  the  towa  of  St..  Augufirne, 
the  capital  6f  the  cdli>ny  whik  it  remained  i»  tlie  hands  of  the 
SpatflwdfeV  was  founded.     In    i^8^>  'this  place   ■^frafS'  :«ken  and 

""pifl»g^'4>y*-  Sir  .Francis  Drake;-  It^  m^WW^tfes-theiiam.*"  fate  ia 
Vol.    IV,  K 


66  GE^^'ERAL  D  ESCRI  PTIO  N  0  ^ 

1665,  being  taken  and  plundered  by  Captain  Davis,  and  a  body 
of  buccaneers.  In  1702,  an  attempt  was  made  upon  it  by  Colo" 
nel  More,  governor  of  Carolina.  He  fet  out  with  five  hundred 
Ehglifh  and  {'even  hundred  Indians  ;  and  having  reached  St,  Au- 
guflinc,  he  befie'^ed  it  for  three  months,  at  the  expiration  of 
which,  the  Spaniards  having  fent  fome  fliips  to  the  relief  of  the 
place,  he  was  obliged  to  retire.  In  1740,  another  attempt  was 
made  by  General  Oglethorpe  ;  but  he  being  outwitted  by  the 
Spanifh  governor,  was  forced  to  raife  the  fiege  with  lofs,  and 
Florida  continued  in  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards  till  the  year 
3763,  v/hen  it  was  ceded  by  treaty  to  Great-Britain.  During 
the  laft  war  it  was  again  reduced  by  his  Catholic  l^Tajelly,  and 
was  guaranteed  to  the  crown  of  Spain  at  the  peace. 

Among  the  rivers  that  fiow  through  this  territory,  and  fall 
into  the  Atlantic  Tea,  St.  John's  and  Indian  rivers  arc  the  prin- 
cipal. St.  John's  river  rifes  in  or  near  a  large  fwamp,  in  the 
heart  of  Eaft-Florida,  and  purfucs  a  northern  courfe  in  a  broad 
,  navigable  ftream,  which,  in  feveral  places,  fpreads  into  bioad 
bays  or  lakes.  Lake  George,  which  is  only  a  dilatation  of  the 
tiver,  is  a  beautiful  piece  of  water,  generally  about  fifteen  miles 
broad,  and  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  deep.  It  is  ornamented 
with  feveral  charming  iflands,  one  of  which  is  an  orange  grove, 
interfperfed  with  magnolias  and  palm  trees.  Near  Long  Lake, 
\vhich  is  two  miles  long  and  four  wide,  and  which  communicates 
with  St.  John's  river  by  a  fmall  creek,  is  a  vafi  fountain  of  warm., 
or  rather  hot  minei-al  water,  ifiTuing  from  a  high  bank  on  the 
river  :  it  boils  up  with  great  force,  forming  immediately  a  vafh 
circular  bafon,  capacious  enough  for  feveral  fhallops  to  ride  in, 
and  runs  with  rapidity  into  the  river,  at  three  or  four  hundred 
yards  diftance  :  the  water  is  perfeftly  clear,  and  the  prodigious 
number  and  variety  of  fifh  in  it,  while  fwimming  many  feet  deep, 
appear  as  plainly  as  though  lying  on  the  table  before  your  eyes  : 
the  water  has  a  difagrceable  tafle,  and  fmells  like  bilge  water. 
This  river  enters  into  the  Allantic,  north  of  St,  Augulline. — 
Indian  river  riles  a  fhort  diftance  from  the  fea  coaft,  and  runs 
from  north  to  fouth,  forming  a  kind  of  inland  palfage  for  many 
miles  alonff  the  coaft. — Seguana,  Apalachicola,  Chatahatchi,  Ef- 
cambia,  Mobile,  Pafcagoula,  and  Pearl  rivers,  all  rife  in  Georgia^ 
and  run  foutherly  into  the  gulph  of  Mexico. 

There  are,  in  this  territory,  a  great  variety  of  foils.  The 
eaftern  part  of  it,  near  and  about  St.  Auguftine,  is  far  the  moll 
unfruitful  ;  yet  even  here  two  crops  of  ^Indian  corn  are  pro- 
duced. The  banks  of  the  rivers  which  water  the  Floridas,  and 
the  parts  contiguous;  are  of  a  iuperior  qualityj  and  well  adapted  to 


EAST   AND    WEST'FLORIDA.  67 

the  culture  of  rice  and  corn,  while  the  more  interior  country, 
which  is  high  and  pleafant,  abounds  with  wood  of  almoft  every 
kind  ;  particularly  white  and  red  oak,  live  oak,  laurel  magnolia, 
pine,  hiccory,  cyprefs,  red  and  white  cedar.  The  live  Oaks, 
though  not  tall,  contain  a  prodigious  quantity  of  timber:  the 
trunk  is  generally  from  twelve  to  twenty  feet  in  circumference, 
and  rifes  ten  or  twelve  feet  from  the  earth,  and  then  branches 
into  four  or  five  great  limbs,  which  grow  in  nearly  a  horizontal 
direftion,  forming  a  gentle  curve.  "  I  have  ftepped,"  lays  Bar- 
tram,*  "  above  fifty  paces,  on  a  Ilraight  line,  from  the  trunk  of 
one  of  thefe  trees  to  the  extremity  of  the  limbs."  They  are  ever 
green,  and  the  wood  almoft  incorruptible.  They  bear  a  great 
quantity  of  fmall  acorns,  which  are  agreeable  food,  when  roafted, 
and  from  which  the  Indians  extratt  a  fweet  oil,  which  they  ule 
in  cooking  homminy  and  rice. 

The  laurel  magnolia  is  the  moft  beautiful  among  the  trees  of 
the  foreft,  and  is  ufually  one  hundred  feet  high,  thougli  fome 
are  much  higher.  The  trunk  is  perfcftly  ereft,  rifing  in  the 
form  of  a  beautiful  column,  and  fupporting  a  head  like  an  obtule 
cone.  The  flowers  are  on  the  extremities  of  the  branches  ;  are 
large,  white,  and  expanded  like  a  roie,  and  are  the  largefl  and 
moft  complete  of  any  yet  known  ;  when  fully  expanded,  they 
are  from  Ox  to  nine  inches  diameter,  and  have  a  moft  delicious 
fragrance.  The  cyprefs  is  the  largeft  of  the  American  trees, 
"  I  have  feen  trunKs  of  thefe  trees,"  (ays  Bartram,  "  that  would 
meafure  eight,  ten,  and  twelve  feet  in  diameter,  for  forty  and 
fifty  feet  ftraight  fhaft."  The  trunks  make  excellent  fhingles, 
boards,  and  other  timber  ;  and  when  hollowed,  make  durable 
and  convenient  canoes,  "  When  the  planters  fell  thefe  mighty 
trees,  they  raife  a  ftage  around  them,  as  high  as  to  reach  above 
the  buttreffes ;  on  this  ftage  eight  or  ten  negroes  aicend  with  their 
axes,  and  fall  to  work  round  its  trunk." 

The  intervals  between  the  hilly  part  of  this  country  are  ex- 
tremely rich,  and  produce  fpontaneoufly  the  fruits  and  vegeta- 
bles that  are  comm.on  to  Georgia  and  the  Cnrolinas.  But  this 
country  is  rendered  valuable  in  a  peculiar  manner  by  its  exten- 
five  ranges  for  cattle, 

St,  Auguftine,  the  capital  of  Eaft-Floridn,  is  fituated  on  the 
fea  coaft,  latitude  29*^  45' ;  is  of  an  oblong  figure,  and  interl'efted 
by  four  ftreels,  which  cut  each  other  at  right  angles.  The  town 
is  fortified  with  baftions,  and  inclofed  with  a  ditcli  :  it  is  like- 
wife  defanded  by  a  caftle,  called  fort   St.    Tohn.   which   is    w^ll ! 

*  Travels,  page  8g. 
K     2 


68  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

appointed  as  to  ordnance.  The  north  and  fouth  breakers,  at 
the  entrance  of  the  harbour,  form  two  channels,  whofe  bars 
have  eight  feet  water. 

The  principal  town  in  Weft-Florida  is  Penfacola,  latitude 
30^  gsA  It  lies  along  the  beach,  and  like  St.  Auguftine,  is 
of  an  oblong  form.  The  water  approaches  to  tlie  town  except 
for  fmall  veffcls,  are  obflru£led  by  a .  low  and  fandy  fhore. 
The  bay,  however,  on  which  the  t9wn  flands,  forms  a  very 
commodious  harbour,  and  veffels  may  ride  there  fecure  from 
every  wind.  The  exports  from  this  town,  confilting  of  fltins, 
logwood,  dying  ftufF,  and  filver  dollars,  amounted,  while  in  the 
pofleffion  of  the  Britifli,  on  an  ax'crage,  to  fixty-three  thoufand 
pounds,  annually ;  the  average  value  of  imports,  for  three 
years,  frcm  Great-Britain,  was  ninety-fcvcn  thouland  pounds^ 


(    69     ) 


LOUISIANA. 


L< 


LOUISIANA  is  bounded  by  the  MlfTiffipp;,  on  the  eafl; ; 
by  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  on  the  fouth  ;  by  New-Mexico,  on 
the  weft ;  and  runs  indefinitely  nortli.  Under  the  French 
government  Louifiana  included  both  fides  of  the  Mifliflippi, 
from  Its  mouth  to  the  Illinois,  and  back  from  the  river,  eaft 
and  weft  indefinitely. 

The  Miffiffippi,  on  which  the  fine  countr)'  of  Louifiana  is 
fituated,  was  firft  difcovered  by  Ferdinand  de  Soto,  in  1541. 
Monfieur  de  la  Salle  was  the  firft  who  traverfed  it.  He,  in  the 
year  1682,  having  pafTed  down  to  the  mouth  of  the  MilTinippi, 
and  furveyed  the  adjacent  country  returned  to  Canada,  from 
whence  he  took  paffage  to  France. 

From  the  flattering  accounts  which  he  gave  of  the  country, 
and  from  the  confcquential  advantages  that  would  accrue  from 
fettling  a  colony  in  thofe  parts,  Louis  XIV.  was  induced  to 
eftabliflr  a  company  for  the  purpofe.  Accordingly  a  fquadron 
of  four  vefTels,  amply  provided  with  men  and  provifions,  under 
the  command  of  Monfieur  de  la  Salle,  embarked  with  an  inten- 
tion of  fettling  near  the  mouth  of  the  Miflinippi  ;  but  he  unin- 
tentionally failed  a  hundred  leagues  to  the  weftward  of  it, 
where  he  attempted  to  cftablifh  a  colony ;  but  through  the 
unfavourablenefs  of  the  climate,  moft  of  his  men  miferably 
periftied,  and  he  himlelf  was  villainoufly  murdered,  not  long 
after,  by  two  of  his  own  men.  Monfieur  Ibherville  fucceeded 
him  in  his  laudable  attempts.  Fie,  after  two  fuccelsful  voy- 
ages, died  while  preparing  for  a  third.  Crozat  fucceeded  him  ; 
and  in  1712,  the  king  gave  him  Louifiana.  This  grant  con- 
tinued but  a  fhort  time  after  the  death  of  Louis  XIV.  In  1763, 
Louifiana  was  ceded  to  the  king  of  Spain,  to  whom  it  now 
belongs. 

This  country  is  interfered  by  a  number  of  fine  rivers,  among 
which  are  the  St.  Francis,  which  empties  into  the  Miffiffippi 
at  Kappas  Old  Fort,  navigable  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  or 
three  hundred  miles  ;  its  courfc  is  nearly  parallel  with  the 
M'^tHippij  and  irom  twenty   to  thirty  miles  diftant   from  it  > 


70 


GENERAL   DESCRIPTION    OF 


the  Natchitoches,  which  empties  into  the  Miffinippi  above 
Point  Coupee  ;  the  Adayes  or  Mexicano  river,  emptying  into 
the  gulph  of  Mexico  ;  and  the  river  Rouge,  on  which,  it  is 
well  known,  are  as  rich  filver  mines  as  any  in  Mexico.  This 
is  fuppolcd  to  be  one  principal  realon  why  the  exclufive 
navigation  of  the  MifTiffippi  has  been  fo  much  infilled  on  by 
Spain. 

Louifiana  is  agreeably  fituated  between  the  extremes  of  heat 
and  cold  ;  its  climate  varies  as  it  extends  towards  the  north. 
The  fouthern  parts,  lying  within  the  reach  of  the  refreifhing 
breezes  from  the  fea,  are  not  fcorched  like  thofe  under  the  fame 
latitudes  in  Africa ;  and  its  northern  regions  are  colder  than 
thofe  of  Europe  under  the  fame  parallels,  with  a  wholefome 
fcrene  air.  To  judge  of  the  produce  to  be  expefted  from  the 
foil  of  Louifiana,  we  fhould  turn  our  Teyes  to  Egypt,  Arabia, 
Felix,  Perfia,  India,  China,  and  Japan,  all  lying  in  correfpond- 
ing  latitudes.  Of  thefe,  China  alone  has  a  tolerable  govern- 
ment ;  and  yet  it  mufl  be  acknowledged,  they  all  are,  or  have 
been  famous  for  their  riches  and  fertility.  From  the  favour- 
ablenefs  of  the  climate,  two  annual  crops  of  Indian  corn  may 
be  produced  ;  and  the  foil,  with  little  cultivation,  would  furnifh 
grain  of  every  kind  in  the  greateft  abundance.  The  timber 
is  as  fine  as  any  in  the  world,  and  the  quantities  of  live  oak, 
afh,  mulberry,  walnut,  cherry,  cyprefs,  and  cedar,  are  aflo- 
rifliing.  The  neighbourhood  of  the  Mifliffippi,  bcfides,  fur- 
nifhes  the  richeft  fruits  in  great  variety  ;  the  loil  is  particularly 
adapted  to  hemp,  flax,  and  tobacco  ;  and  indigo  is  at  this  time 
a  ftaple  commodity,  which  commonly  yields  the  planter  three 
or. four  cuttings  a  year.  In  a  word,  whatever  is  rich  and  rare  in 
the  mofk  defirable  climates  in  Europe,  feems  to  be  the  fpon- 
taneous  produftion  of  this  delightful  country.  The  MifTiflippi 
and  the  neighbouring  lakes  furniih  in  great  plenty  feveral  forts 
of  fiOi,   particularly  perch,   pike,    (lurgeon,   and  eels. 

In  the  northern  part  of  Louifiana,  forty-five  miles  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio  river,  on  the  weft  bank  of  the  MifTifiTippi, 
?  fettlement  is  commenced,  conduftcd  by  Colonel  Morgan,  of 
New-Jerfey,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Spanifh  king.  The 
foot  on  which  the  city  is  propoied  to  be  built,  is  called  New- 
Madrid,  after  the  capital  of  Spain,  and  is  in  north  latitude 
36°    30' 

The  lisTiits  of  the  new  city  of  Madrid  are  to  extend  four 
miles  fouth,  and  two  miles  weft  from  the  river,  fo  as  to  crofs,  a 
beautiful,  living,  deep    lake,  of   the    pureft   fpring  water,    one 


L  0  U  I  S  I  A  N  A.  71 

hunJrccl  yards  wide,  and  feveral  miles  in  length,  emptying 
iticlf,  by  a  conflant  rypid  narrow  dream,  through  the  center 
of  the  city.  The  banks  of  this  lake,  which  is  called  St. 
Annis,  are  high,  beautiful,  and  pleafant  ;  the  waters  deep, 
clear,  and  fvveet  ;  the  bottom  a  clear  fand,  free  from  woods, 
fhrubs  or  other  vegetables,  and  well  flored  with  fiih.  On 
each  fide  of  this  delightful  lake  flreets  are  laid  out,  one  hun- 
dred feet  wide,  and  a  road  is  to  be  continued  round  it  of  the 
fame  breadth  ;  and  the  trees  are  dire6led  to  be  preferved  for 
ever  for  the  health  and  pleafure  of  the  citizens.  A  ftreet  one 
hijndred  and  twenty  feet  wide,  on  the  banks  of  the  Miffiirippi, 
is  laid  out,  and  the  trees  are  direfted  to  be  preferved  for  the 
fame  purpofe.  Twelve  acres,  in  a  central  part  of  the  city, 
are  to  be  refcrved  in  like  manner,  to  be  ornamented,  regulated 
and  improved  by  the  mngifhacy  of  the  city  for  public  walks  ; 
and  forty  half  acre  lots  for  other  public  ules  j  and  one  lot  of 
twelve  acres  for  the  king's  ule. 

New-Madrid,  from  its  local  fituation  and  adventitious  pri- 
vileges, is  in  a  profpeft  of  being  the  great  emporium  of  the 
weflern  country,  unlefs  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mifliflippi 
{hould  be  opened  to  the  United  States  :  and  even  fhould  this 
deftred  event  take  place,  which  probably  will  not  without  a 
rupture  with  Spain,  this  muft  be  a  place  of  trade.  For  here 
will  naturally  center  the  immenfe  quantities  of  produce  that 
will  be  borne  down  the  Illinois,  the  MiirifTippi,  the  Ohio,  and 
their  various  branches  ;  and  if  .the  carriers  can  find  as  good  a 
market  for  tlieir  cargoes  here,  as  at  New-Orleans  or  the  Weft- 
Indies,  and  can  procure  the  articles  they  defire,  they  will 
gladly  fave  themfelves  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  navigating 
the  long  MilliPappi. 

The  countr)'  in  the  vicinity  of  this  intended  city  is  repre- 
fented  as  excellent,  in  many  parts  beyond  defcription.  The  na- 
tural growth  confifls  of  mulberry,  locuft,  faffafias,  walnut,  hic- 
corv,  oak,  afli,  dog-wood,  &c.  with  one  or  more  grape  vines 
running  up  almoft  every  tree  ;  the  grapes  yield,  from  experi- 
ment, good  red  wine,  in  plenty  and  with  little  labour.  In  lome 
of  the  low  grounds  grow  large  cyprefs  trees.  The  country  is 
interfperfed  with  prairies,  and  now  and  then  a  cane  patch  of  one 
hundred,  and  fome  of  one  thoufand  acres.  Thefe  prairies  have 
no  trees  on  them,  but  are  fertile  in  grals,  flowering  plants,  ftraW- 
berries,  &c.  and,  when  cultivated,  produce  good  crops  of  wheat, 
barley,  Indian  coin,  flax,  hemp,  and  tobacco,  and  are  eafily 
tilled.  The  climate  is  faid  to  be  favourable  for  health,  and  to 
the  culture  of  fruits  of  various  kinds,  and  particularly  for  garden 


nz  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

vegetables.  Iron  and  lead  mines,  and  (alt  fprings,  it  is  afferted, 
are  found  in  fuch  plenty  as  to  afford  an  abundant  fupply  of  ihefe 
neceffary  articles.  The  banks  of  the  MifTiffippi,  for  many  leagues 
in  extent,  commencing  about  twenty  miles  above  the  mouth  of 
Ohio,  are  a  continued  chain  of  lime-Hone.  A  fine  trail  of  high, 
rich,  level  land,  S.  W.  by  W.  and  N.  W.  of  New-Madrid, 
about  twenty-five  miles  wide,  extends  quite  to  the  river  St. 
Francis. 

It  has  been  fuppofed  by  fome,  that  all  fettlers  who  go  beyond 
the  Miffiffippi,  will  be  for  ever  loft  to  the  United  States.  There 
is,  we  believe,  little  danger  of  this,  provided  they  are  not  pro- 
voked to  withdraw  their  friendfhip.  The  emigrants  will  be  made 
up  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States.  They  will  carry  along 
with  them  their  manners  and  culhoms,  their  habits  of  govern- 
ment, religion  and  education  ;  and  as  they  are  to  be  indulged 
with  religious  freedom,  and  with  the  privilege  of  making  their 
own  laws,  and  of  condufting  education  upon  their  own  plans, 
thefe  American  habits  will  undoubtedly  be  cherifhed  ;  if  To, 
they  will  be  Americans  in  faft,  while  they  are  nominally  the  fub- 
je61s  pf  Spain. 

It  is  true,  Spain  will  draw  a  revenue  from  them,  but  in  return 
they  will  enjoy  peculiar  commercial  advantages,  the  benefit  of 
which  will  be  experienced  by  the  United  States,  and  perhaps  be 
an  ample  compenfation  for  the  lofs  of  lo  many  citizen^  as  may 
migrate  thither.  In  fhort,  this  fettlement,  if  conducted  with 
judgment  and  prudence,  might  be  mutually  ferviceable  both  to 
Spain  and  the  United  States;  it  might  prevent  jealoufies  ;  leffen 
national  prejudices;  promote  religious  toleration;  prefervc  har- 
mony, and  be  a  medium  of  trade  reciprocally  advantageous. 

But  it  is  well  known  that  empire  has  been  travelling  from  eaft 
to  weft.  Probably  her  laft  and  broadeft  feat  will  be  America. 
There  the  fciences  and  arts  of  civilized  life  are  to  receive  their 
highefl:  improvements:  there  civil  and  religious  liberty  are  to 
flourifh,  unchecked  by  the  cruel  hand  of  civil  or  ecclefiaftical 
tyranny  :  there  genius,  aided  by  all  the  improvements  of  former 
ages,  is  to  be  exerted  in  humanizing  mankind,  in  expanding  and 
enriching  their  minds  with  religious  and  philofophical  know- 
ledge, and  in  planning  and  executing  a  form  of  government, 
which  will  involve  all  the  excellencies  of  former  governments, 
with  as  [ew  of  their  defefts  as  is  confiflent  with  the  imperfec- 
tion of  human  affairs,  and  which  v/ill  be  calculated  to  protccl: 
and  unite,  in  a  manner  conuftent  with  the  natural  rights  of  man- 
kind, the  largcfl  empire   that  ever  exiffed.     Elevated  with  theic 


LOUISIANA.  73 

profpefts,  which  are  not  merely  the  vifions  of  fancy,  we  can- 
not but  anticipate. the  period,  as  not  far  diftantj  when  the  Ame- 
firan  empire  will  cotrtpreLiend  millions  of  fouls  weft  of  the 
Mifliiffippi.  J^-idging  upon  probable  grounds,  the  MilTiffippi 
was  never  deflgned  as  the  wcftein  boundary  of  the  American 
empire.  The  God  of  Nature  never  intended  that  lome  of  the 
beft  part  of  his  earth  Ihould  be  inhabited  by  the  fuhjcfts  of  a  ' 
monarch  four  thoufand  miles  from  them.  And  we  mny  ven- 
ture to  predift,  thatj  when  the  rights  of  mankind  fhall  be  more 
fully  known,  and  the  knowledge  of  them  is  faft  increafing 
both  in  Europe  and  America,  the  power  of  European  potentates 
Vill  be  confined  to  Europe,  and  their  prefent  American  domi- 
nions become,  like  the  United  States,  free,  fovereign,  and  inde- 
pendent empires. 

It  feerns  to  depend  on  a  timely  adoption  of  a  wife  and  liberal 
policy  on  the  part  of  Spain,  whether  or  not  there  fhall  be  a  fpee- 
dy  revolution  in  her  American  colonies.  It  is  afTerted  by  the 
beft  informed  on  the  fubjeft,  that  there  are  not  a  hundred  Spa- 
tiifh  families  in  all  Louifiana  and  Weft-Florida  ;  the  bulk  of 
inhabitants  are  French  people,  who  are  inimical  to  the  Spani- 
ards, and  emigrants  from  the  United  States,  and  a  few  Englifh, 
Scots,  Dutch,  and  Irifh.  This  was  the  cafe  in  1791  :  and  as 
all  emigrations  to  this  country  have  fince  been,  and  will  proba- 
bly in  future  be,  from  the  United  States,  and  thele  emigrations 
are  numerous,  the  time  will  foon  come,  when  the  Anglo  Ame- 
ricans in  this  country  will  far  exceed  the  number  of  all  other 
nations. 

The  wretched  policy  of  New-Orleans,  unlefs  changed,  will 
haften  a  revolution  in  the  Spanifli  colonies.  So  long  as  the  go- 
vernor can  di£};ate  laws  and  difpenfe  with  them  at  his  pleafure, 
and  create  monopolies  in  trade  for  his  own  and  his  favourites' 
advantage,  as  is  now  the  cafe,  there  fan  be  no  ftability  in  the 
commerce  of  this  pbce.  The  cxclufive  right,  even  of  lupply- 
ing  the  market  with  frefh  beef,  pork,  veal,  mutton,  is  monopo- 
lized. No  farmer  or  planter  is  allowed  to  kill  his  own  beef, 
fwine,  calf,  or  fheeps  and  lend  it  to  market  ;  he  muft  fell  it  to 
the  king's  butcher,  as  he  is  called,  at  the  price  he  is  pleafed  to 
give  •,  and  this  man  retails  it  out  at  a  certain  price  agreed  upon 
by  the  governor,  in  juft  fuch  pieces  as  he  thinks  proper,  through 
a  window  or  grate.  Afk  for  a  roafting  piece,  and  he  will  give 
you  a  fliin  or  brifket  of  beef  ;  point  to  the  piece  you  v/ant  and 
he  w^ill  tell  you  it  is  engaged  to  your  fupenor.  From  fimilar 
condu6l,  turkies  now  fell  for  four  or  five  dollars  a  piece,  which 

L 


14  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION  OP 

under  the  French  government,  were  in  abundance  for  half  a 
dollar.  The  monopoly  of  flour  is,  if  poffible,  on  flill  a  worfe 
footing  for  the  inhabitant  ;  and  the  tobacco  infpeftion  yet  more 
flifcou raging  to  the  planter.  The  governor,  or  tht  crown,. as 
it  is  call'd,  niufl  haVe  an  undefined  advantage  in  every  thing* 
Hence  all  are  ripe  for  a  revolution  the  moment  one  fhall  offer 
with  prf)fpcft  of  being  fupported,  whether  it  fhall  come  from 
the  United  States^  England,  France,  or  internally  from  the  in- 
habitants. 

It  is  faid  to  have  been  the  fixed  refolution  of  the  Britifh  mi-- 
niftry  to  feize  on  New-Oi leans,  in  the  iirfl  inftance,  in  cafe  a 
rupture  with  Spain  had  t>ken  place,  as  a  nccelfary  pfelude  to  an 
arttack  on  the  Spanifh  polIcflTions  in  the  Wefl-Indies  and  on  the 
main.  For  this  purpole  every  bend  of  the  river,  every  bay  and 
harbour  on  the  coafl,  have  been  furveycd  and  founded  with  the 
utmofl  cxaftncfs,  and  all  of  them  are  better  known  to  the  Britifb 
than  to  the  Spaniards  themfelvKS. 

Whilft  the  United  States  were  engaged  in  tlie  revolution 
■war  ngainft  England,  the  Spaniards  attacked  and  poffeffed  them- 
feives  of  all  the  Englifli  pofts  and  fettlements  on  the  MiflTifrippi, 
from  the  Iberville  up  to  the  Yazoos  river,  including  the  Nat- 
chez country  ;  and  by  virtue  of  this  conquefk  are  now  peopling 
and  governing  an  extent  of  country  three  degrees  north  of  the 
United  States'  louth  boundary,-  and  claiming  authority  which 
no  treaties  v?arrant.  This  alone  will  probably  be  deemed  fuf- 
ficient  caufe  for  the  United  States  to  join  with  any  other  power 
againft  Spain,  the  firfi;  opportunity,  as  they  conceive  thefe  terri- 
tories belong  to  them  by  treaty.  In  fuch  cafe,  the  Kentucky 
fountry  alone  could,  in  one  week,  raife  a  iufficient  force  to  con-\ 
quer  all  the  Spanifli  pofTefhons  on  the  MillifTippx  ;  whil'ft  one 
thoufand  men  would  be  equal  to  defend  the  whole  country  of 
New-0:leans  and  Louiftarfe  from  any  enemy  approaching  it  by 
fea.  The  greater  a  hoftile  fleet  entering  the  Mifliffippi,  the 
greater  a^nd  more  certain  would  be  their  deftruftion,  if  oppofetj 
by  men  of  knowledge  and  relblution.,* 


*  The   following  extraft  of  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  at  I^cw-Orlcans,  dated- 
September,   1790,    contains   much   ufclul   infoi'mation,  rn    confirmation  of  the 

above  : 

I  "  WbcQ  I  left  you  and  my  other  friends  at  BahimoFc,  lafiyear,  f  promifed 
(o  write  to  you  by  every  opportunity,  and  to  communicate  to  you  every  in- 
oimalion   which    I  could   derive   from    my  cxcurfion  to  the  Oliio,  down  thK 


LOUISIANA.  75 

New-Orleans  {lands  on  the  eaft  fide  of  the  M'lflTiffippi,  one 
hundred  and  five  miles  from  its  mouth,  in  latitude  30  2 
north.      In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1787    it  contained   about 


beautiful  ftream,  during  my  ftay  at  Kentucky  and  the  wcftern  polls,  my  vifit 
to  the  Illinois  and  the  different  fettlements  on  the  Miffiflippi,  from  thence  down 
to  New-Orleans. 

"  As  I  have  devoted  more  than  twelve  months  in  making  this  tour,  with  the 
dcterrainatisn  to  judge  for  myfelf,  and  to  give  you  and  my  other  friends  in- 
formation to  be  depended  upon,  regarding  the  climate,  foil,  natural  produce 
tions,  population,  and  other  advantages  and  difadvaiH'igeS)  which  you  may  de- 
pend on  finding  in  the  country  I  have  palled  through,  I  cannot,  within  the  nar» 
row  bounds  of  this  letter,  comply  with  my  intention,  and  your  wifli,  out  1 
muft  beg  of  you  to  reft  fatisfied  with  what  followa  :  • 

»♦**»»♦»«*•*»»***♦**** 
««  Nearly  oppfite  to  Louifville  is  a  ftockade  fort,  garrifoncd  by  two  compa- 
nies of  the  firft  United  States  regiment.     Wiiat  ufe  this  pod  is  of,   I  never  could 
learn.— -It  is  a  mere  hofpital  in  the  fummer  feafon,  and  the  grave  of  brave  men, 
who  might  be   ufcfully   employed   elfewhere.     Fort  Harmar  is  as  remarkably 
healthful ;  fo  is  the   New-England  feitlement  at   Mufkingum ;  and    I  thmk  tna 
Miami   fettlement  will  be  heahhful  when  the  people  have  the  comforts  of  good 
living  about  them  ;  at  prcfent  they  are  the  pooreft  among  the  poor  emigrants  to 
this  country,  and  not  the  beil  managers.     Below  the  tails  on  the  weft  fide,  is  a 
vjiiferablc   fettlement,  called  Clarkefville,  frequently  flooded,  and  coinpofcd  of 
a  people  who  cannot  better  themfelves  at  prefcnt,  or  I  fuppofc  they  would  not 
continue  here.     From  thence  I  made  an  excurfion  by  land  to  Poft  Vincent,    dii-  • 
tant  about  one  hundred  miles  :  the  fon  here  is  garrifoned  by  two  companies,  at 
great  expcnfc,  but  little  ufe.      Not  liking  the   country  ow  account  of  the  many 
hoftile  neighbouring  Indians,  Ihaftcned  out  of  it,  and  went  with  a  paityof  French- 
men to  Kaikaikias,  in  the  Iljirjois  country,  and  vifited  Prairie  des   Rochers,  St. 
Phillip's,  Belle    Fontaine,  and  Kahokia ;  from   whence  making    up   a   party  to 
purfue  fome  hoftile  Kukapoos,  and  fleering  due  eaft,  we  fell  on  the  head  waters 
•f  the  Kafkafkia  river,  which  we  cx-offed  at  iome  diftance.     This  is  a  delig^ful 
country  !  On  our  return  to  Kahokia,   I  crofted  over  to  St.  Louis,  on  the  6pa!iin-i 
fide,  but  I  did  not  proceed  far  iato  the  country ;  what  I  did  fee  I  did  not  like, 
and    therefore   bought   a  canoe   and  went  down  the  Milfiffippi  to  St.   Genevieve 
and  the  Saline.     Not  being  pleafed  with  thefe  places,  nor  the  country  around,  I 
embraced  the   company  of  fome   French  hunters  and  traders  going  towards  the 
St.  Francis  river,  in  a  fouth-weft  dire£lion  from  St.  Genevieve.     After  travelling 
thirty  miles  nearly,  I  came  to  a  fwcet  country  ;  here  meeting  with  fome  Shawa- 
nefe  Indians  going  to  I'Ance  la  Graifc,  and  New-Madrid,   I  made  them  a  f'mall 
prefcnt,  and  engaged  them  to  efcort  me  there,  which  they  did  through  a  country 
fine  and  beautiful  beyond  defcription  ;  variegated  by  fmall  hills,  beautiful   tim- 
ber, and  extenfivc  plains  of  luxuriant  foil.     Here  the  Spaniards  are   building  a 
handfome  fort,  to  encourage  the  fettlement  by  Americans,  on  a  plan  of  Colonel 
Morgan's,  of  Ncw-Jerfey,  which,  had   it  been   purfued,  as    propofed  by  him, 
would  have  made  this  the  firll  in  all   the    wcftern   country ;  but  they  have  de- 
viated from  it,  fo  much   as  to  difcourage  the   fettlement,  and  many  have  left  it. 
The  banks  of  the  MifTifTippi  overflow  above  and  below  the  town,  but  ih.c  coun- 
try bask  from  the  river  is  incomparably  beautiful  aud  fiiic.     I  laade  c  to'ui-  b^^ck 


76  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  &c. 

one  thoufand  one  hundred  houfes,  feven-eights  of  which  were 
confumed  by  fire  in  the  fpace  of  five  hours,  on  the  19th  of 
March,  lySS.  It  is  now  rebuilt.  Its  advantages  for  trade 
are  very  great.  Situated  on  a  noble  river,  in  a  fertile  and 
healthy  country,  within  a  week's  fail  of  Mexico  by  fea,'  and  as 
near  to  the  Britifh,  French,  and  Spanifli  Weft-India  iflands^ 
with  a  moral  certainty  qf  its  becoming  the  general  receptacle 
for  the  produce  of  that  extenfive  and  valuable  country,  on  the 
Miflsfiip'pi  3nd  Ohio  ;  theie  circumftances  are  fufHcient  to  en- 
fure  its  future  growth  and  commercial  importance. 

The  greater  part  of  the  white  inhabitants  are  Romaii  Catho- 
lics ;  they  are  governed  by  a  viceroy  from  Spain  •,  the  number 
of  inhabitants  is  unknown. 


to  the  river  St.  Francis,  diflant  about  twenty-eight  or  thirty  miles,  and  returned 
\>y  anoiher  route  more  fouthward,  to  my  great  fati^faftion.  Expreffing  to  fome 
of  the  people,  at  New-Madrid,  iny  furprife  at  Coionel  S***'s  account  of  this 
country,  I  was  told  that  he  never  went  one  hundred  yards  back  from  the  river, 
either  on  the  Ohio  or  MiffilTippi,  except  once,  and  that  was  at  rAftce  la  Graife, 
tvhcrc  a  horfe  was  provided  for  him,  and  he  rode  fifteen  or  twenty  miles,  and 
returned  fo  enraptured  with  the  country,  that  hp  would  not  lillen  to  the  propof^ 
ed  fettlement  of  New-Madrid  being  fixed  at  any  other  place ;  and  he  aftually  ap- 
plied to  Colonel  Morgan  for  forty  fuiveys,  moft  of  which  were  executed  ;  and  he 
entered  into  obligations  for  fetilements  thereon ;  but  the  Colonel  refufing  to 
grant  him  three  hundred  acres  of  the  town  lots,  for  a  farm,  as  it  would  be  in- 
jurious to  other  applicants  of  equal  merit,  S***  fwore  he  would  do  every  thing 
in  his  power  to  injure  Morgan  and  the  fettlement;  which  it  feems  he  has  endea- 
voured to  do,  to  the  ruin,  however,  of  his  own  reputation.  I  am  fatisfied  that 
the  failure  of  this  fettlement  is  only  owing  to  a  narrow  policy  in  the  Spanifh 
government,  or  to  a  deviation  from  their  firft  plan,  and  not  from  the  caufea 
rec^feiited  by  its  enemies.  This  is  the,  country,  of  aH  others,  I  have  feen^ 
which  I  would  wilh  to  fettle  in,  had  Colonel  Morgan's  plan  been  adopted,  or 
carried  into  execution ;  and  thoufands  among  the  heft  people  of  the  wcllern 
country  would  already  have  been  fettled  here.  "Why  it  was  not,  I  knov/  not ; 
but  i  am  told  jealoufy  of  his  fuccefs  was  the  caufe. 

"  After  continiiing  two  months  in  this  delightful  country,  I  proceeded  to 
the  Natchez,  which  has  already  become  a  confiderable  fettlement,  and  is  now 
under  the  government  of  Don  Gayofo,  a  man  greatly  beloved  ;  but  the  Spanifh 
government,  though  I  think  it  liberal  at  prefent,  will  not  long  agree  with 
American  ides  of  liberty  and  juftice  ;  and  a  revolution  is  now  in  embryo,  which 
a  linail  tnaitcr  will  blow  to  a  flame;  and  Ntw-Orleans  itfelf  will  be  at  the 
iiiercy  of  new  fubjcfts,  if  joined  by  a  handful  of  the  KeiUufky  people. 


(  n  ) 


MEXICO,  on  NEW-SPAIN. 


M. 


-EXICO  is  fituatcd  betv/een  9^  and  4(5°  north-latitude, 
and  18"  and  50°  weft-longitude.  Its  length  is  two  thoufand 
one  hundred  miles,  and  breadth  one  thoufand  fix  hundred. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  unknown  regions  ;  on  the  eaft, 
by  Louifiana  and'  the  gulph  of  Mexico  ;  on  the  fouth  by  the 
ifthmus  of  Darien,  which  feparates  it  from  Terra  Firma  iri 
South- America  ;  and  on  the  weft,  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

This  vaft  country  is  divided  into  three  grand  divifions,  viz, 
J,  Old-Mexico.  2.  New-Mexico  Proper.  3.  Cali- 
fornia, lying  on  the  weft,   and  a  peninfula. 

OLD-MEXICO. 

The  ancient  kingdom  of  Mexico,  properly  fo  called,  was 
divided  into  feveral  provinces,  of  which  the  vale  of  Mexico 
itfelf  was  the  fineft  in  every  refpeft.  This  vale  is  furroundcd 
by  verdant  mountains,  meafuring  upwards  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  in  circumference  at  their  bafe,  A  great  part  of 
it  is  occupied  by  two  lakes,  the  upper  one  of  frefh  water,  but 
the  lower  one  brackifh,  communicating  with  the  former  by 
means  of  a  canal.  All  the  water  running  from  the  mountains 
is  coUefted  in  this  lower  lake,  on  account  of  its  being  in  the 
bottom  of  the  valley  ;  hence  it  was  ready,  when  fweiled  by 
extraordinary  rain,  to  overflow  the  city  of  Mexico.  This 
delightful  region  contained  the  three  imperial  cities  of  Mexico, 
Acolhuacan,  and  Tlacopan  ;  belides  forty  others,  with  innume- 
rable villages  and  hamlets  ;  but  the  moft  confiderable  of  thefe, 
according  to  Clavigero,  now  fcarcely  retain  one  twentieth  part 
of  their  former  magnificence.  The  principal  inland  provinces 
to  the  northward  were  the  Otomies ;  to  the  fouth-weft  the 
Malatzincas  and  Cuillatecas ;  to  the  fouth  the  Tlahuicas  and 
Cohuixcas  ;  to  the  fouth-eaft,  after  the  ftates  of  Itzocan,  Jauh- 
tepac,  Quauhquecollon,  Atlixco,  Tehuacan,  and  others,  were 
the  great  provinces  of  the  Mixtecas,  the  Zapotecas,  and  the 
Chiapanccas  ;  towards  the  eaft  were  the  provinces  of  Tepayacac, 
the  Popolocas.  and  Totonacas,     The  maritime  provinces  on  the 


78  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

Mexican  gulf  were  Coatzacualco  and  Cuetlachtlan,  called  by 
the  Spaniards  Cotafla.  On  the  Pacific  Ocean  were  thofe  of 
Coliman,  ZacatoUan,  Tototepec,  Teauantepec,  and  Zoconochco, 
The  province  of  the  Otomies  began  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  vale  of  Mexico,  extending  through  the  mountains  to  the 
north,  to  the  diflance  of  ninety  miles  from  the  city  of  Mexico; 
the  principal  cities  being  Tollan,  or  Tula,  Xilote.pec  :  the  latter 
made  the  capital  of  the  country  by  the  Spaniards.  Beyond  the 
fettlements  of  the  Otomies,  the  country  for  more  than  a  thou- 
fand  miles  in  extent  was  inhabited  only  by  barbarous  and  wan- 
dering favag«s. 

The  Malatzinca  province  contained  the  valley  of  Tolocan, 
and  all  the  country  from  Taximaroa  to  the  frontier  of  the  king- 
dom of  Michuacan.  The  valley  of  Tolocan  is  upwards  of  forty 
miles  long  from  foutli-eaft  to  north-weft,  and  thirty  in  breadth, 
where  broadeft.  Its  principal  city,  named  alio  Tolocan  is 
fjtuated  at  the  foot  of  a  high  mountain  covered  with  fnow^, 
thirty  miles  diftant  from  Mexico. 

The  country  of  the  Cuitlatecas  extended  from  ncrth-eaft  to 
fouth-weft,  upwards  of  two  hundred  miles,  extending  as  far  as 
t}ie  Pacific  Ocean.  Their  capital  was  named  Mexcaltepec, 
once  a  great  and  populous  city,  fituated  upon  the  lea  coaft,  but 
of  which  the  ruins  are  now  fcarcely  vifible.  That  of  the 
flahuicas  was  named  Quauhnahuac,  and  fituated  about  forty 
miles  to  the  fouthward  of  Mexico.  I'he  province  extended 
almoft  fixty  miles  fouthward,  commencing  from  the  fouthern 
mountains  of  the  vale  of  Mexico. 

The  country  of  the  Cohuixcas  extended  on  the  fouthward  as 
far  as  the  Pacific  Ocean,  through  tJQat  part  where  at  preient  the 
port  and  city  of  Acapulco  lie.  It  was  divided  into  the  ftates  of 
Tzompanco,  Chilapan,  Tlapan,  and  Tiftla  ;  the  latter  a  very 
i'  >*  and  unwholeiome  country.  To  this  province  belonged  a 
place  na.ncd  Tlachco,    celcbrdted  for  its  filver  mines. 

The  proyuicc  ^f  the  Mixiccas  extended  from  Acatlan,  a 
place  djilant  about  ouc  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  Mexico, 
*s  far  as  the  Pacifip  Oce-iii  towards  the  louthcaft.  The  inha- 
i*>itants  carjied  on  a  coniiderable  conimeicf,  aii>i  had  leveral 
wcU-inhabited  cities  and  villages.  To  the  eafl  of  the  Mixiecas 
were  the  Zapotecas,  10  called,  from  their  capital  Teoizapotlan. 
In  their  diftrift  was  the  valley  of  Huaxyacap,  now  Ojxuca,  or 
^Guaxaca. 

The  prr,vir.ce  of  M.iz-itlan  lay  to  the  northward  of  the  Mix- 
tecas  ;  and  to  the  northwiird  and  eaftward  of  the  Zapotecas  was 
Ch:'Ti^!"»-''U   hav'rg    ihcir    capitals    of  the   la.:.e  na.T.c  with  their 


MEXICO,  OR  NEW-SPAIN,  ^g 

provinces.  The  Chiapaneeas,  Zoqui,  and  Queleni,  were  ths 
lad  of  the  Mexican  provinces  towards  the  fouth-eaft.  On  the 
fide  of  the  moantain  Popocatepec,  and  around  it,  lay  feveral 
ftates  of  which  the  moft  confiderable  were  Cholallan  and 
Huexotzinco.  Thefe  two  having,  with  the  afliftance  of  the 
Tlafcalans,  fhaken  off  the  Mexican  yoke,  re-eftabliflied  theix 
former  aviftocratical  gcvernment.  The  Cholulans  pofTeffed  a 
fmall  hamlet  called  Cuitlaxcoapan,  in  the  place  where  the 
Spaniards  afterwards  founded  the  city  of  Angelopoli,  which  i» 
the  fecond  in  New-Spain. 

To  the  eaftward  of  Cholula  lay  a  confiderable  flate  named 
Tepeyacae  ;  and  beyond  that  the  Popolocas,  whofe  principal 
eitics  were  Tecamachaleo  and  Quechoiac.  To  the  l©uthvvard 
of  the  Popolocas  was  the  ftate  of  Tahuacan^  bordering  upoa 
the  country  of  the  Mixtecas ;  to  the  eaft,  the  maritime  pro- 
vince of  Ctietlachllan  ;  »nd  to  the  north,  the  Totonacas.  The 
extent  of  this  province  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  mil-es,  begin- 
ning from  the  frontier  of  Zacatlan,  a  ftate  diftant  about  eighty- 
miles  from  the  courts,  and  terminating  in  the  gulf  of  Mexico, 
Befides  the  capital,  named  Mizquihuacan,  this  country  had  the 
beautiful  city  of  Chemp©allan,  fituated  on  the  coaft  of  the 
g^ulf,  remarkable  for  being  that  by  which  the  Spaniards  entered 
the  Mexican  empire-. 

CoHman  wss  the  moft  northerly  of  the  province  on  the 
Pacific  Ocean  ;  the  capital,  named  alfo  Coliman,  being  in  lati- 
tude 19,  longitude  2'^°  2.'.  Towards  th«  fouth-eafl  was  the 
province  of  Zacotlan,  with  its  capital  of  the  fame  name  ;  then 
tame  the  coaft  of  the  Cuitlatecas  ;  after  it  that  of  the  Cohuxi- 
Cans,  in  Which  was  the  celebrsited  port,  of  Acapulco,  Th"e  Jopi 
bordered  on  the  Cohuixca  coail  ;  and  adjoining  to  that  the 
Mixteca  country,  now  called  Xicayan  ;  next  to  that  was  the 
large  province  of  Tecuantepec  i  and  laftly,  that  of  Xocho- 
nocheo. 

Tliis  proX'ince,  the  moft  foutherly  of  the  Mexican  emprre, 
tvas  bounded  on  the  eaft  and  fouth-eaft  by  the  country  of 
Xochitepec,  which  did  not  belong  to  Mexico  ;  on  the  weft  by 
Tecuantepec ;  and  on  the  fouth  by  the  ocean.  The  capital, 
tailed  alio  Xoconochco,  was  fituated  between  tv.^o  rivers,  in  14 
degrees  ef  latitude,  and  28"'  3' of  longitude.  On  the  Mexican 
gulf  there  were,  befides  the  country  of  Totonecas,  the  provinces 
of  Cuetlachtlan  and  Coatzacuajco  ;  the  latter  bounded  on  the 
eaft  by  the  States  of  Tabafco,  and  the  peninfula  of  Yucatan.  The 
pro'vince  of  Cuetlachtlan  comprehended  aJl   the  coaft  between 


^o  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION  OP 

river  Alvarado  and  Antigua,  where  the  province  of  the  Toto- 
necas  began. 

The  climate  of  this  vaft  country  varies  much  according  to  ths 
iituation  t)f  its  defferent  parts.  The  maratime  places  are  hot^ 
unhealthy,  and  moift ;  the  heat  being  fo  great  as  to  caufe  peo- 
ple to  Iweat  even  in  the  month  of  January.  This  heat  is  fup- 
pofed  to  be  owing  to  the  flatnefs  of  the  coafts,  and  the  accumula- 
tion of  fand  upon  them.  Tlie  moifture  arifes  from  the  vaft  eva- 
poration from  the  fea,  as  well  as  from  the  great  torrants  of  wa- 
ter defcending  from  the  mountains.  The  lands  which  lie  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  high  mountains^  the  tops  of  which  arc  al- 
ways covered  with  fnow,  muft  of  neceffity  be  cold  ;  and  Clavi- 
gero  informs  us,  that  he  has  been  on  a  mountain  not  more  than 
twenty-five  miles  diftant  from  the  city  of  Mexico,  V/here  there 
was  white  froft  and  ice  even  in  the  dog  day.  "  All  the  other 
inland  countries,"  fays  the  fame  author,  "  where  the  greateft 
population  prevailedj  enjoy  a  climate  fo  mild  and  benign,  that 
they  neither  feel  the  rigour  of  winter  nor  the  heat  of  lummer. 
It  is  true,  in  many  of  the  countries,  there  is  frequently  white 
froft  in  the  three  months  of  December,  January,  and  February, 
and  fometimes  even  it  fnows  ;  but  the  fmall  inconvenience 
which  fuch  cold  occafions,  continues  only  till  the  riling  fun  : 
no  other  fire  than  his  rays  is  necelTary  to  give  warmth  in  winter; 
no  other  relief  is  wanted  in  the  feafon  of  heat  but  the  fhade  : 
the  fame  clothing  which  covers  men  in  the  dog-days,  defends 
them  in  January,  and  the  animals  fleep  all  the  year  under  the 
open  fky. 

"  This  mildnefs  and  agreeablenefs  of  climate  under  the  torrid 
zone  is  the  effeft  of  feveral  natural  caufes  entirely  unknown  to 
the  ancients,  who  did  not  believe  it  to  be  inhabited,  and  not 
well  underftood  by  fome  moderns,  by  whom  it  is  believed  unfa- 
vourable to  thofe  who  live  in  it.  The  purity  of  the  atmofpherc, 
the  fmaller  obliquity  of  the  folar  raySj  and  the  longer  ftay  of 
this  luminary  above  the  horizon  in  winter,  in  comparilon  of 
ether  regions  farther  removed  from  the  equator,  concur  to  leffen 
the  cold,  and  to  prevent  all  that  horror  which  disfigures  the 
face  of  nature  in  other  climes.  During  tint  feafon  a  lerene  fky 
and  the  natural  delights  of  the  country  are  enjoyed  j  whereas 
under  the  frigid,  and  even  for  the  moft  part  under  the  temper- 
ate zones,  the  clouds  rob  man  of  the  profpeft  of  heaven,  and 
the  fnow  buries  the  beautiful  produftions  of  the  earth.  No 
lefs  caufes  combine  to  temper  the  heat  of  fummer.  The  plenti- 
fy)   ihowers  which  frequently  water  the  earth  after  mid-day, 


ME  X  IC  0,  0  R  NEJV.S  PAI  N.  Bi 

Irom  April  or  May,  to  September  or  Oftober  ;  the  higb  moun- 
tains, continually  loaded  with  fnow,  fcattered  here  and  there 
through  the  country  of  Anahuac  ;  the  cold  winds  which  breathe 
From  them  in  that  lealon;  and  the  Ihorter  flay  of  the  fun  above 
the  horizon,  compared  with  the  circumftances  of  the  temperate 
zone,  transform  the  climes  of  thofe  happy  countries  into  a  cool 
and  cheerful  fpring.  But  the  agreeablencfs  of  the  climate  is 
coun>terbalanced  by  thunder  ftorms,  which  are  fiiequent  in  lum- 
mer,  particularly  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  mountain  of  11a!- 
cala  ;  and  by  earthquakes,  which  are  at  all  times  felt,  though 
with  lels  danger  than  terror.  Storms  of  hail  are  neither  more 
frequent  nor  more  levere  than  in  Europe," 

One  undoubted  inconvenience  which  Mexico  has,  is  that  or 
volcanoes^  of  which  Clavigero  enumerates  five.  One  named 
by  the  Spaniards  Volcon  d'Orizaba,  is  higher  than  the  peak  of 
TenerifFe,  according  to  the  account  of  the  Jeiuit  Tallundier, 
who  meafured  them  both.  It  began  to  fend  foith  fmoke  in  the 
year  154,5,  and  continued  burning  for  twenty  years,  but  has  not 
diicovered  any  fymptoms  of  eruption  fincc  that  time.  It  is  of 
a  conical  figure,  and  by  reafon  of  its  great  height,  miy  be  feerx 
at  fifty  leagues  diftance.  The  top  is  always  covered  with  fnow, 
but  the  lower  part  with  woods,  of  pine  and  other  valuable  tim- 
ber.     It  is  about  ninety  miles  to  the  eaftward  of  the  capital. 

Two  other  mountains,  named  Popocatepec  and  IztnccihuatI, 
which  lie  near  each  other^  at  the  diftance  of  thirty-three  miles 
to  the  fouth-caPc  of  Mexico,  arc  likewife  furprilingly  higli.  Cla- 
vigero fuppofes  the  former  to  be  higher  than  the  highefl  of  the 
Alps,  confidcring  the  elevated  groi^nd  on  which  the  bale  of  it 
flands;  It  has  a  crater  more  than  half  a  mile  wide  ;  from  which, 
in  the  time  of  tlie  Mexican  kings,  great  quantities  of  fmoke  and 
flame  iffued.  In  the  laffc  century  it  frequently  threw  out  great 
fhowers  of  alhes  upon  the  adjacent  places  ;  but  in  this  century 
hardly  any  imoak  has  been  obferved.  This  mountain  is  named 
by  the  Spaniards  Volcan,  and  the  otiier  Sierra  Nevada  ;  the 
l.-itter  has  alfo  fojnetimes  emitted  flames.  Both  of  them  have 
their  tops  always  covered  with  fnow  in  fuch  quantities,  that  the 
malTes  which  fall  down  upon  the  neighbouring  rocks  fupply  the 
cities  of  Mexico,  Gelopoli,  Cholula,  and  all  the  adjacent  country 
to  the  diftance  of  forty  miles,  with  that  commodity,  of  which 
the  coniumption  is  fo  great,  that  in  1746  the  impoft  upon  what 
was  conftimed  in  the  city  of  Mexico,  amounted  to  fifteen  thou- 
sand two  hundred  and  twelve  Mexican  crowns.  ;  fame  years  after, 

M 


S2  GE-NERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

it  amounted  to  twenty  thoufand,  and  is  now  in  all  probabiiriy 
a  great  deal  more.  Bcfides  thefe  there  are  the  two  mountains 
of  Cohman  and  Tochtlan,  both  of  whicli  have  occafionally 
emitted  fiimcs.  Clavigero  does  not  include  in  tiie  lift  of 
Mexican  volcanoes,  either  tliofe  of  Nicaragua  or  Cuatimaja, 
becaufe  thcfe  countries  were  not  fubjeft  to  the  Mexican  love- 
reigns.  Thefe  of  Guatimala  fometimcs  break  forth  in  a  moft 
furious  manner*,  and  in  the  year  1773  entirely  deftroycd  that 
beautiful  city.  The  Niearaguan  volcano,  called  Juruyo  was 
only  a  fmall  hill  before  the  year  1760.  In  that  year,  however, 
on  the  29th  of  September,  it  began  to  burn  with  furious  ex- 
plofions,  ruining  entirely  the  fugar  work,  and  the  neighbouring 
village  of  Guacana  :  and  from  that  time  continued  to  emit 
fire  and  burning  rocks  in  fuch  q^uantities,  that  the  erupteci 
matters  in  fix  years  had  formed  themrel\es  into  three  high 
mountains^  nearly  fix  miles  m  circumference.  During  the 
time  of  the  firit  eruption^  the  afhcs  were  carried  as  far  as  the 
city  of  Ouerctaro,  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  diftant  from 
the  volcano  ;  and  at  Valladolidy  diftant  fxxty  miles  from  it,  the 
fhower  was  fo  abundant,  that  the  people  were  obliged  to  fweep 
the  houfe  yards  two  or  three  times  a  day, 

Bcfides  thefe  volcanoes,  there  are  others  in  Mexico  of  a  very 
remarkal)le  height.  The  great  chain  of  mountains  called 
the  Andes,  are  continued  through  the  iflhmus  of  Panama, 
and  through  all  Mexico,  until  they  are  loft  in  the  unknown 
jnountains  of  tlie  north.  The  moft  confrderable  of  th:£ 
chain  is  known  in  MeKico  by  the  name  of  Sierra  Mjd)ey 
particularly  in  Cinalo  and  Tarahumara,  provinces  no  Icfs^ 
than  one  thoufand  two  hundred  miles  diftant  from  the  ca- 
pital. 

Mexico  is  well  watered  by  very  confiderable  rivers,  though 
rone  of  them  are  comparable  to  thofc  of  S«>ul;h-America, 
Some  of  thele  run  into  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  and  others  into 
the  Pac-fic  Ocean,  The  Alvarado  has  its  principal  fource  amorg 
the  mor.ntains  of  the  Zapotecas,  and  difcharges  itlelf  by  three 
navigable  mouths  in  the  PV'Jcxican  gulf,  at  the  diftauce  of  thirty 
miles  from  Vera  Cruz.  The  Coatzocualco  rifcs  among  the 
mountains  of  the  Mixtecas,  and  empties  itfclf  into  the  gulf 
near  the  country  of  Onohualco,  The  river  Chiapan,  which 
likewile  runs  into  this  gulf,  rifes  among  the  mountains  which 
feparate  the  diftrift  of  Chiapan  from  that  of  Guatimala.  Tl  c 
Spaninrds-  call  this  river  Tabafco,  by  which  name  they  alfo 
called   that  traft  of  land   which  unites  Yucatan  to  the  Mexican- 


MEXICO,  OR  NEW-SPAIA\  §3 

continent.     It  waa  alfo  <alled  Grijalva,  from  the   name   of  the 
commander  of  the  Spanifli  tleet  who  difcovered  ir. 

The  moft  celebrated  of  the  rivers  which  run  into  the  P^ciftc 
Ocean,  is  that  called  by  the  Spaniards  Guadalaxara,  or  Gicat 
river.  It  rifes  in  the  mountains  of  Toloccan  ;  and  after  run- 
ning a  courfe  of  more  than  fix  hundred  miles,  diicliarges  itfelf 
into  the  ocean  in  22*^  latitude. 

There  are  likewile  in  this  country  feveral  lakes  of  verv 
confiderable  magnitude,  but  thofe  of  Nicaragua,  Chapallan,  and 
Pizquaro,  which  are  of  the  greateft  extent,  did  not  belong  to 
the  ancient  Mexican  empire.  The  moll  remarkable  were  thofe 
in  the  vale  of  Mexico,  upon  which  the  capital  of  the  empir^ 
was  founded.  Of  thefe,  the  frefh  water  one  called  the  lake  of 
Chalco,  extending  in  length  from  eaft  to  weft  twelve  miles, 
as  far  as  the  city  of  Xochimilco  ;  from  thence,  taking  a  norther- 
ly direftion;  it  incorporated  itfelf  by  means  of  a  canal  with 
the  lake  of  Tezcuco  ;  but  its  breadth  did  not  exceed  fix  miles. 
The  other,  named  the  lake  of  Tezcuco,  extended  fifteen  or  rather 
feventeen  miles  from  eaft  to  weft,  and  fomething  more  from 
fouth  to  north  ;  but  its  extent  is  now  much  lels  by  reafon  of 
the  Spaniards  feaving  diverted  the  courle  of  many  of  the  flreams 
which  run  into  it.  This  lake  is  fait,  which  Clavigero  fuppofes 
to  arifc  from  the  nature  of  the  foil  which  forms  its  bed. 

Befides  thefe,  there  are  a  number  of  Imalier  lakes,  fonie  of 
which  are  vcy  delightful.  There  is  a  vaft  variety  of  mineral 
waters,  of  the  nitrous  fulphureous,  and  aluminous  kinds,  fome 
of  them  fo  hot,  that  meat  might  be  boiled  in  them.  At  Tetu- 
huacan  is  a  kind  of  petrifying  water,  as  well  as  in  feveral  other 
parts  of  the  empire.  One  of  them  forms  a  kind  of  fmooth 
white  ftones,  not  difpleafing  to  the  tafte  ;  the  fcrapings  of  which 
taken  in  broth  are  celebrated  as  a  diaphoretic,  probably  with- 
out anv  good  reafon.  The  dofe  for  a  perlon  not  difficult  to  be 
fweated  is  one  dram  of  the  fcrapings.  Many  of  the  rivers  of 
Mexico  afford  furprifing  and  beautiful  cafcades,  particularlv 
the  £;rcat  river  Guadalaxara,  at  a  place  called  Tempizquc,  fifteen 
miles  to  the  fouthward  of  that  cfty.  Along  a  deep  river  called 
Atoyaque,  is  a  natural  bridge,  confifting  of  a  vaft  mound  gf 
earth,  along  which  carriages  pafs  conveniently,  Clavigero  fup- 
pofes it  to  have  been  the  fragment  of  a  mountain  thrown  down 
by  an  earthquake,   and  then  penetrated  by  the  river. 

The  mineral  produftions  of  Mexico  are  very  valuable  ;  the 
natives  found  gold  in  feveral  provinces  of  the  empire  ;  the3i' 
gathered  it   principally   from   amon^   the    fanck   of  thcii    rivers 

M  2 


^4  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION    OF 

in  grains,  and  the  people   in   whofe  country  it  was  found,  were 
obliged   to   pay   a   certain    quantity   by    way    of    tribute   to    tbe 
emperor.     They    dug   filvcr  out   of  the   mines  in  Tlochc^  and 
fome  other    countries ;     but  it  was     lefs  prized    by    them   than 
by  other  nations.      Since  the  conqueft,   however,   lb  many  filver 
mines   hav^e  been    dilcovered  in   that    country,  efpecially   in  the 
provinces  to  the  north-wefl  of  the  capital,  that  ic   is  in    vain  to 
attempt    any   enumeration    of    them.      They    had    two    forts    of 
copper  :  one   hard,  which  ferved  them  inftcad  of  iron,  to  make 
axes  and  other  inflrumcnts    for  war  and   agriculture  ;  the   other 
kind,  which  was  foft  and  flexible,   lerved  for   domellic  utenlils 
as-  with   us.     They    had    alio   tin   from  the   mines    of  Tlachco, 
and   dug  lead  out  of  mines  in  the  country  of  the  Otomies,  but 
we    are  not  informed   what    ufes    they   put   this   laft   metal   to, 
They    had   likewife    mines    of  iron    in    Tlafcala,    Tlachco,  and 
fome  pther  places  ;  but  thefe  were  either  unknown  to  the  Mexi- 
cans, or  they  did  not  know  how   to  benefit  themfelves  by  them. 
In    Chilapan   were   m.ines    of  quickfilver ;    and  in    many   places 
they  had  fulphur,  alum,  vitriol,  cinnabar,  ochre,  and  an   earth 
greatly    refembiing  white  lead.     Thefe  minerals   were   employ- 
ed  in    painting    and  dyeing,  but   we   known   not    to   what    ufe 
they    put    their    quickfilver.       There    was   great    abundance   of 
amber  and  alphaltum   upon   their    coafts,  both    of  which    were  i 
paid    in    tribute   to    the    king    of  Mexico    from    many   parts  of 
the  empire  :   the   former    was    wont    to   be    fct    in    gold   by   way 
of    ornament,     and    alphaltum    was    employed     in     their     facri- 
fices, 

Mexico  produces  fome  diamonds,  though  but  few  in  num- 
ber ;  but  tlicy  had  in  greater  plenty  fom.e  other  precious  ftoncs, 
luch  as  atncthyfls,  cats  eyes,  turquoiies,  cornelians,  and  (omc 
green  ftoues  relembling  emeralds,  and  very  little  inferior  to 
lliem,  of  all  which  a  tribute  was  paid  to  the  emperor  by  the 
people  in  whoic  territories  they  were  found.  They  were 
likewife  furniihed  with  chryllal  in  plenty  from  the  mountains 
which  lay  on  the  coaft  of  the  Mexican  gulph,  between  the 
port  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  river  Coatzacualco.  In  the  moun- 
tains of  Celpolalpan,  to  the  eaftward  of  Mexico,  were  quarries 
of  jaiper  and  marble  of  different  colours :  they  had  likewife 
al.ibafter  at  a  place  called  Tccalco,  now  Tecale,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  province  of  Tapcyacac,  and  many  other  parts 
of  the  empire.  The  ftone  tetzontli  is  generally  of  a  dark  red 
colour,  pretty  haid,  porous,  and  light,  and  unites  moft  firmly 
with  lime  and  land,  on  which  account  it  is  of  great  reauelt  for 


MEXICO,  OR  NEW. SPAIN,  85 

buildings  in  the  capital,  where  the  foundation  is  bad.  There 
are  entire  mountains  of  load-ftonc,  a  very  confiderable  one 
.  of  which  lies  between  Teoitztlan  and  Chilapan,  in  the  country 
of  the  Cohuixcas.  They  formed  curious  figures  of  nephritic 
ftone,  forae  of  which  are  flill  preferved  in  European  mufeums. 
They  had  a  kind  of  fine  white  talc,  which  burnt  into  an  excel- 
lent plafter,  and  with  which  they  ufed  to  whiten  their  paint- 
ings. But  the  moll  ufeful  ftone  they  had,  was  that  called 
itztli,  of  which  there  is  great  abundance  iii  many  parts  of  Mexi- 
co :  it  has  a  gloffy  appearance,  is  generally  of  a  black  colour, 
and  femi-tranfparent  ;  though  fometimes  alio  of  a  blue  or  white 
colour.  In  South-America  this  flone  is  called  pietra  del 
galinazzo  ;  and  Count  Caylus  endeavours  to  {how,  in  a  manu- 
fcript  differtation  quoted  by  Bomare,  that  the  obfidiona,  of 
which  the  ancients  made  their  vafes  murini,  were  entirely  fimilar 
to  this  ftone.  The  Mexicans  made  of  it  looking-glafles,  knives, 
lancets,  razors,  and  ipears.  Sacred  vafes  were  made  of  it  after 
the  introduftion  of  Chriftianity. 

The  foil  of  Mexico,  though  various,  produced  every  where 
the  neceffaries,  and  even  the  luxuries  of  life.  "  The  celebrat- 
ed Dr.  flernandez,  the  Pliny  of  New-Spain,"  fays  Ciavigero, 
"  has  defcribed  in  his  Natural  Hiftory  about  one  thouiand 
two  hundred  plants,  natives  of  the  country  ;  but  his  defcrip- 
tion,  though  large  being  confined  to  medicinal  plants,  has  only 
comprifed  one  part  of  what  provident  nature  has  produced 
there  for  the  benefit  of  mortals.  With  regard  jto  the  other 
claffes  of  vegetables,  Ibme  are  efteemed  for  their  flowers,  fome 
for  their  friiit,  iome  for  their  leaves,  Ibmc  for  their  root,  fome 
for  their  trunk  or  their  wood,  and  others  for  their  gum,  refin, 
pi),  or  juice." 

Mexico  abounds  with  a  great  variety  of  flowers,  many  of 
which  are  peculiar  to  the  country,  while  multitudes  of 
others  imported  from  Europe  and  Afia  rival  in  luxuriance 
the  natives  of  the  country  itleif.  The  fruits  are  partly  natives 
of  the  Canary  iflands,  partly  of  Spain,  befides  thofe  which 
grow  naturally  in  the  country.  The  exotics  are  water  melons, 
apples,  pears,  peaches,  quinces,  apncots,  pomegranates,  figs, 
black  cherries,  walnuts,  almonds,  olives,  chefnuts,  and  grapes  ; 
though  thele  laft  arc  likewiic  natives.  Tlicie  are  two  kinds 
of  wild  vine  found  in  the  country  of  the  Mixtecas,  the  one 
refembling  the  common  vine  in  the  fhoots  and  figure  of  its 
leaves;  it  produces  large  red  grapes  coveied  witli  an  hard  Ikin, 
but  of  fweet  and  grateful  tafte,  which  would  undoubtedly 
improve  greatly   by   culture,     The   grape  of  the  other  li.i|id  is 


86  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

hard,  large,  and  of  a  very  harfh  tafte,  but  they  make  an  excellent 
conferve  of  it.      Clavigeio  is  of  opinion   that    the   cocoa   tree, 
plantain,  citron,  orange,  and  lemon,  came   from    the  Philippine 
iilands  and  Canaries  ;  but  it  is  certain  that  thefe,  as  wejl  as  other 
trees,  thrive  in  this  country  as  well  as  in  their  native  foil.     All 
the  maritime  countries  abound  with  cocoa  nut  trees:   they  have 
fcven  kinds  of  oranges,  and  four  of  lemons,  and  there  are  like- 
wife  four  kinds    of  plantains  ;  the   largeft,  called  the  zapala,  is 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  inches  long,   and  about  three  in  diameter; 
it  is  hard,   little  efleeined,  and   only  eat  when  roafled  or  boiled. 
The  platano  largo^  or    "  long  plantain,"  is  about    eight   inches 
long,  ahd  one  and  a  half  in  diameter  ;  the  fkin  is  at  firft  green, 
End  blackifh  when  perfectly  ripe.     The  guinea  is  a  fmaller  fruit, 
but  richer,  fofter,  and  more  delicious,  though  not  fo  wholefcune. 
A  fpccics  of  plantain,  called  the  dominico,  is  fmaller  and  more 
delicate   than    the  others.     There  are  whole  woods  of  plaintain 
trees,  oranges,  and  lemons  ;  and  the  people  of  Michuacan  carry 
ori  a  confiderable  commerce  with  the  dried  plantains,  which  are 
preferable  either  to  raifins  or  figs.    Clavigero  enumerates  twenty- 
eight   different    forts  of  fruit,  natives  of  Mexico,  befides  many 
others,    the   names  of  which  are  not  mentioned.      Hernandez 
mentions  four  kinds  of  cocoa  nuts,  of  which  the  fmalleft  of  the 
wliolc  was  in  the  mod  ufe  for  chocolate  and  other  drinks  daily 
in;*de  ufe  of;  the    other  kinds  ferved    rather  for  money  in  com- 
n'lrrce  than    for   aliment.     The  cocoa  was  one  of  the  plants  moft 
cultivated  in  the  warm  countries  of  the  empire,  and  many  pro-. 
vinces  paid  it  in  tribute  to  the  emperor,  particularly  that  of  Xo- 
eonochco,    the    cocoa-nut   of  which  is  preferable  to  the  others. 
Cotton  was  one  of  the  moft  valuable  productions  of  the  country, 
s&  it  ferved   inftead  of  flax,  though  this  lafl  alfo  was  produced  in 
the  country  ;    it   is    of  two  kinds,    white   and   tawny-coloured. 
They  made  yfe  of  rocou,   or  Biafil-wood    in    their  dying,   as  the 
Europeans   alfo  do :   they   made   cordage    of  the   bark,  and   the 
wood  was  made  ufe  of  to  produce  fife  by  friction. 

'^i'he  principal  grain  of  Mexico,  before  the  introduftion  of 
ihofe  from  Europe,  was  maize,  in  the  Mexican  language  called 
tluolli,  of  which  there  were  feveral  kinds,  differing  in  fize, 
weight,  colour,  and  tafte.  This  kind  of  grain  was  broughr  from 
A'Tieiica  to  Spain,  and  from  Spain  to  other  countries  cf  Europe. 
'j'he  French  bean  was  the  principal  kind  of  puUe  in  ufe  among 
them,  of  which  there  were  more  ipecics  than  of  the  ma.izc ;  the 
l^rgcil  was  called  ayacotli,  of  the  fize  of  a  commoji  bean,  with  a 
beautiful  red  Ilov.'cr  ;  but  the  moil  cfi.ccmccl  wjs  the  finnil,  black, 


MEXICO,  OR  N  EW.SP  AIM.  87 

heavy  French  bean.  This  kind  of  pulfe,  which  is  not  good  ia 
Italy,  is  in  Mexico  lb  excellent,  that  it  not  only  ferves  for  fufic- 
rance  to  the  poorer  chfs  of  people,  but  is  efleemed  a  luxury 
even  by  the  Spanifh  nobility. 

Of  the  efculent  roots  of  Mexico,  the  following  were  the  mcfl 
remarkable:  i.  The  xicama,  called  by  the  Mexicans  catzotJ, 
was  of  the  figure  and  fize  of  an  onion,  folid,  frefli,  juicy,  and  of 
a  white  colour  5  it  was  always  cat  raw,  2.  The  camote,  is  ano- 
ther', very  common  in  the  country,  of  which  there  are  three' 
forts,  white,  yellow,  and  purple  :  they  cat  bcfl:  when  boiled.  3, 
The  cacornitc,  is  the  root  of  a  plant  which  has  a  beautiful  flower 
called  the  tyger  flower,  with  three  red  pointed  petals,  the  mid- 
dle part  mixed  with  white  and  yellow,  fomewhat  refembling 
the  fpots  of  the  creature  whence  it  takes  its  name.  4.  The 
huacamote,  is  the  root  of  a  kind  of  Caffava  plant,  and  is  likewifes 
boiled.  5,  The  papa,  a  root  tranfplanted  into  Europe,  and. 
greatly  valued  in  Jreland,  was  brought  from  South-America  into 
Mexico,  Behdes  all  which  they  have  a  number  of  kitch.,n 
vegetHbles  imported  from  the  Canaries,  Spain,  and  other  coun- 
tries of  Europe.  The  American  aloe  is  very  fimilar  to  the  real 
one,  and  is  a  plant  of  which  the  Mexicans  formerly,  and  ihc^ 
Spani-n-ds    flill,   make    great  uCe. 

They  have  a  variety  of  palm  trees.  From  the  fibres  of  the 
leaves  of  one  fpecies  they  make  thread  :  the  bark  of  another 
kind,  to  the  depth  of  three  fingers,  is  a  mafs  of  membranes, 
of  which  the  poor  people  make  mats  ;  the  leaves  of  another 
kind  are  ufed  for  oriiaments  in  their  fefilvals  :  they  are  round 
grofs,  white,  and  fhining,  having  the  appearance  of  fliells  heap- 
ed upon  one  another.  A  fourth  kind  bears  nuts  called  co- 
coas, or  nuts  of  oil.  Thefe  nuts  are  of  the  fize  of  a  nut- 
meg, having  in  the  infide  a  white,  oily,  eatable  kernel,  covered 
by  a  thin  purple  pellicle.  The  oil  has  a  fweet  fcent,  but  is  eafily 
eondenfedy  when  it  becomes  a  foft  mafs,  as  white  as  fnow. 

Qf  timber  trees  there  are  great  variety,  of  a  quality  not  infe- 
rior to  any  in  the  woiid  ;  and  as  there  are  a  variety  of  climates 
in  the  country,  ever)'  o^nc  produces  a  kind  of  wood  peculiar  to 
itfelf.  There  are  whole  w^oods  of  cedars  and  ebnaies,  vaft 
quantities  of  agallocbum,  or  wood  of  aloes;  befides  others  valua- 
ble on  account  of  their  weight,  durability  and  hardnafs,  or  for 
their  being  calily  cut,  pliable,  of  a  fine  colour,  or  an  agreeable 
flavour.  There  are  alfo  in  Mexico  innumerable  trees  remaik- 
able  for  their  fize.  Acofta  mentions  a  cedar,  the  trunk  of 
v/hich  was  fixteen  fathoms  in  circumference  ;  and  Clavigero 
mentions  one    of  the   length   of  one   hundred  and   ieven    Paris 


«8  GENERAL  D  ESC  RI  ^Jl^q^^  0  P 

-feet..  .Ja  the  city   of  Mexico    he  ijientiohs   very  large   tables  of 
cedar  mads  out    of  fingle   planks.      In    the  valley  of  Atlixco  is 
a  very   anc-ient  fir   treCj  hollowed  by    lightning^. the.  cavity    of 
..which,  could   convcQienlly    hold   fourteen    horfe.cnen  j^  nay,, jive 
,, are  informed  by.  the   archbifliop   of    Toledo,  that   in    i7'j,o.,he 
.  went  to   vie^y  it    along    with    the    archbifiiop   of    Ouatimala,   aj 
which  timq  ^i,e  caufed^.an  .hundred  young  lads  to  enter  its  cavity^ 
..Our  j^ythor^mentiqnS  fpme  pther  trees,    of  the    fpecies    called 
ceiba,  which  fot  magnitude   may   be   compared    with   this    cele- 
brated fir  :   "The  largenefs   of  thefe   trees,"   fays   he,   V.  .^s  ,pro- 
,,portiqn?d|tO,their  prodigious  elevation,  and   they   affor.d,  ?i  n;K)fi 
delightful     profpeft   at    the  time   they    are    adornedwith    new* 
leaves    and    loaded    with   fruit,    in    which    there    is    inclofed  a 
particular    fpecies    of    fine,    white,    and   moft    delicate    cotton : 
this  .might   be,  and    aftually   has    been,  made  into  webs  as  foft^ 
delicate,  and  perhaps  more   fo   than   fi\T<.  ;  but    it    is    tcilfome   to 
fpin,    on    account    of    the    fmallnefs    of    the    threads,    and   the 
profit   does  not    requite   the  labour,   the    web   not    being   laftin^. 
^SjOme  ufe  it  for  pillows  and  mattrefles,   which  have   the~  fingular 
property  of  expanding  enormoufly  when   expofed   to   the   heat 
of  the  fun.      De    Bomare   fays,  that    the   Africans  make  of  the 
thread  of  the    ceiba    that   vegetable    taffety   which    is    fo  fcar^e,- 
and  fo  much  efteemed   in  Europe.      The   icarcity   of  fuch    cloth 
is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  confidering  the  difficulty  of  making  it. 
The   ceiba,   according    to   this   author,  is   higher    than  all   otJief 
trees  yet  known." 

Clavigero  .mentions  a  Mexican  tree,  the  wood  of  which  is 
very  valuable,  but  poifonous,  and  if  incautioufly  handled  when 
frefli  cut,  produces  a  fwelling  in  the.  fcrotum.  He  has  forgot 
•  the  name  given  to  it  by  the  Mexicans,  nor  has  he  ever  feen 
the  tree  itfclf,  nor  been  witnefs  to  the  effeft. 
.This  country  abounds  alfo  with  aromatic  and  medicinal 
tjees,^,pr9ducing  gums,  refins,  &c.  From  one  of  thefe  a 
balfun  is  produced,  not  in  the  leafl  inferior  to  the  celebrated 
bnlfam  of  Mecca  ;  it  is  of  a  reddifli  black  or  yellowifh  white,  of  a 
iharp,  bitter  tafte  and  of  a  ftrong  but  mod  grateful  odpi^rjg-ji^fjis 
common  in  the  provinces  of  Panuco  and  Chiapan,  and  other  warm 
countries  ;  the  kings  of  Mexico  caufed  it  to  be  tranfplanted  into 
their  celebrated  garden  of  Huaxtepec,  where  it  ^purif^e^, 
&^d  was.  afterwards  multiplied  in  all  the  neighbouring  moun,- 
jta.ins.  The  Jndians,  in  order  to  procure  a  greater  .quantity  of 
this  baKam,   burn  the  branches,  which    afford,,t^or^^^th9.ffg,^55f 


MEXICO,  OR  NEJV.SPAir^.  8c> 

lliJlilhtion,  though  undoubtedly  of  an  inferior  quality ;  nor 
do  they  regard  the  loi's  of  the  trees,  which  are  very  abundant  ; 
the  ancient  Mexicans  were  wont  to  extraft  it  alfo  by  decoction. 
The  firft  parcel  of  this  balfam  brought  from  Mexico  to  Rome 
was  fold  at  one  hundred  ducats  per  ounce,  and  was,  by  the 
apoftolic  fee,  declared  to  be  matter  fit  for  chrihn,  though 
different  from  that  of  Mecca,  as  Acofta  and  all  other  writers 
on  this  fubjeft  obfervc.  An  oil  is  alfo  drawn  from  the  fruit 
of  this  tree  fimilar  in  tafte  and  fmell  to  that  of  the  bitter 
aimond,  but  more  acrimonious.  From  two  other  trees,  named 
the  huaconex  and  maripenda,  an  oil  was  extrafted  equivalent 
to  the  balfam  :  the  former  is  a  tree  of  a  moderate  height,  the 
wood  of  which  is  aromatic,  and  fo  hard,  that  it  will  keep 
frefh  for  feveral  years,  though  buried  under  the  earth  :  the 
leaves  are  fmall  and  yellow,  the  flowers  likewife  fmall  and 
white,  and  the  fruit  fimilar  to  that  of  the  laurel.  The  oil 
was  diflilied  from  the  bark  of  the  tree,  after  breaking  itj  and 
keeping  it  three  days  in  fpring  water,  and  then  drying  it  in 
the  fun  :  the  leaves  likewife  aflorded  an  agreeable  oil  by  dif- 
tilla'tion.  The  maripenda  is  a  fhrub  with  lauceolated  leaves, 
the  fruit  of  a  red  colour  when  ripe,  and  refembling  the  grape. 
The  oil  is  extrafted  by  boiling  the  branches  with  a  mixture  of 
Ibme  of  the  fruit. 

The  trees  producing  liquid  amber,  the  liquid  ftorax  of  the 
Mexicans)  is  of  a  large  fize,  the  leaves  fimilar  to  thofe  of 
the  maple,  indented,  white  in  one  part  and  dark  in  the  other,  ' 
difpofed  of  in  .threes }  the  fruit  is  thorny  and  round,  but 
polygonous,  witli  the  furface  and  the  angles  yellow  ;  the  bark 
of  the  tree  partly  green  and  partly  tawny.  By  inrilions  in 
the  trunk  they  extract  that  valuable  fubflance  named  liquid 
amber,  and  the  oil  of  the  fame  name,  which  is  ftill  more 
valuable.  Liquid  amber  is  likewife  obtained  from  a  decoc- 
tion of  the  branches,  but  it  is  inferior  to  that  obtained  from 
the  trunk. 

The  name  copalli  in  Mexico  is  generic,  and  common  to  all 
the  rehns,  but  elpecially  iigniftes  thofe  made  ufe  of  for  incenfe» 
There  are  ten  Ipecies  of  thefe  trees  yielding  refins  of  this 
kind,  the  principal  of  which  is  that  from  which  the  copal 
is  got,  fo  well  known  in  medicine  and  Varnifhes.  A  great 
quantity  of  this  was  made  ufe  of  by  the  ancient  Mexicans,  and 
is  flill  ufed  for  hinilar  purpofes  by  the  Spaniards.  The 
tecopalli,  or  tepecopalli,  is  a  refin  fimilar  to  the  incenfe  of 
Arabia,  which  diflils  from    a   tree  o^  moderate  fize  that  grows 

N 


90  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION   01^ 

in  the  mountains,  having  a  fruit  like  an  acorn,  and  containing 
the  nut  inveloned  in  a  mucilage,  within  which'  there  is  a 
fmall    Tterrial    ufefiiT  in    medicine. 

The  miz(:]'.mr,'  or  mezquite,  is  a  fpecies  of  true  acacia,  and 
the  gum  diilllling  from  it  is  faid  to  be  the.  true  gum  ara, 
bic  :  It  is  a  thbrhy  'flirub,  Vi'ih  branches  irregularly  difpofedy 
tiie  leaves  fiTriall,  thin,  and  pinnated;  the  flowers  being  like 
thofe  of  the  birch  tree  :  the  fruits  are  fweet  and  eatable,  con-* 
taining  a  feed,  of  which  the  barbarous  Chichemecas  were  wont 
to  m-'ke  a  kind  of  pafte  that  ferved  them  for  bread.  The  wood 
is  exceedingly  hard  and  heavy,  and  the  trees  are  as  common  in 
Mexico  as  oaks  are  in  Europe,  particularly  on  hills  in  the  tem- 
|)er2te  countries. 

Of  the  elaflic  gum,  v^^hich  is  found  in  plenty  in  Mexico,  the 
natives  w'ere  in  ufe  to  make  foot-bails,  which,  though  heavy, 
Ivve  a  better  fpring  than  thofe  filled  with  air.  At  prefcnt  they 
^'^arnifh  with  it  their  hats,  cloaks,  boots  and  great  '  coats,'' in  "a 
manner  fimilar  to  what  is  done  in  Europe  with  \vsx,  and  by 
■Vvhich  means  ihey  are  rendered  all  water  proof. 

Clavigero  laments,  that  the  natural  hiftory  of  vegetables  in 
Mexico  is  very  little  known,  and  that  of  animals  no  better. 
The  firft  Spaniards,  fays  he,  who  gave  them  nameSj  were  more 
fkilful  in  the  art  of  war  than  in  the  ftudy  of  nature.  Inftead 
of  retaining  the  terms  which  would  have  been  moft  proper, 
thev  denominated  many  animals  tygers,  wolves,  beais,  dogs, 
fquirrels,  Sec.  althougli  they  were  very  different  in  kind,  merely 
from  fome  refemblance  in  the  colour  of  their  fkin,  their  figure, 
or  fome  fimilarity  in  habits  and  difpofition.  The  quadrupeds 
found  in  Mexico  at  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards,  were  lions, 
tygers,  wild  cats,  bears,  wolves,  foxes,  the  common  flags,  white 
flags,  bucks,  wild  goats,  badgers,  pole-cats,  weafels,  martins, 
f<juirrcls,  polatucas,  rabbits,  hares,  otters  and  ratSi  All  thefe 
animals  are  fuppofed  to  be  common  to  both  continents.  The 
-white  flag,  whether  it  be  the  fame  fpceies  of  the  other  or  not^ 
is  undoubtedlv  common  to  both,  and  was  known  to  thd  Greeks 
and  Rom.ins.  The  Mexicans  call  it  "  the  king  bF''^hib  ftaos." 
M.  Bufton  imagines  the  white  colour  of  this  creature  to  be  the 
effeft  of  captivity;  but  Clavigero  fays,  that  it  is  found  wild, 
ift'd'of  the  fame  white  colour,  on  the  mountain^  <!>'f"^^lSpain, 
Iti' rrianr  other  points,  he  alfo  controverts  the  opinions  of  this 
celebrated  naturalift,  who  will  not  allow  the  lion,  tyger  or 
rabbit,  to  be  riatives  of  America* 


MEXICO,  OR  NEW-S PAIN.  91 

The  animals  which  are  common  to  Mexico,  with  the  other 
parts  of  the  continent,  are,  the  Mexican  hog,  the  moufele,  the 
opofTum,  the  armadillo,  the  techichi,  a  fmall  animal  relembhng  a 
dog,  which  being  perfeftly  dumb,  gave  occaTion  to  a  report,  that 
the  Mexican  dogs  could  not  bark.  The  fiefli  of  this  animal  was 
eat  by  them,  and  was  efteemed  agreeable  and  nouiifhing  food. 
After  the  conqueft  of  Mexico,  the  Spaniards  having  neither 
large  cattle  nor  flieep,  provided  their  markets  with  this  qua- 
^druped,  by  which  me^ns  the  fpecies  foon  came  to  be  extintl, 
jthough  it  had  been  very  numerous-.  The  land-fquirrel  is  veiy 
numerous  in  the  kingdom  of  Michuacan,  has  great  elegance  of 
form,  and  is  extremely  graceful  in  its  movement  ;  but  it  can- 
not be  tamed,  and  bites  moll  furiouily  every  perfon  who  ap- 
proaches it. 

Befides  thefe,  there  are  fea-lions,  raccoons,  and  that  voracious 
animal  named  the  tapir.  There  are  likewife  great  numbers  of 
monkeys  of  many  different  kinds,  Tome  of  which  have  heads  re^ 
fembling  thofe  of  dogs  ;  fome  of  them  are  ftrong  and  fierce^ 
equalling  a  man  in  ftature  when  they  ftand  upright. 

Among  the  animals  peculiar  to  Mexico,  is  one  named  by 
Clavlgero  coynto,  which  appears  to  have  been  inaccurately 
defcrfbcd  by  natural  hiftorians,  fome  making  it  one  fpecies  and 
fome  another.  The  tlalcojotl,  or  tlalcoyoto,  is  about  the  fize 
of  a  middling  dog,  and  in  Clavigero's  opinion,  is  the  largefk 
animal  that  lives  under  the  earth.  The  tepeizuintli,  or  a  m«un- 
tain-dog,  though  it  is  but  of  the  fize  of  a  Imall  dog,  is  lo  bold 
".that  it  attacks  deer,  and  fometimes  kills  them.  Another  animal, 
larger  than  the  two  foregoing,  is  called  the  xoloitzcuintli  ;  fome 
of  thefe  are   no   lefs  than  four  feet  in   length  :   it  has  a  face  like 

j^  .the  dog,  but  tufks  like  the  wolf,  with  ereft  ears,  the  neck  grols, 
and  the  tail  long  :  it  is  entirely  deflitute  of  hair,  except  only 
the  fnout,  where  there    are    fome    thick    crooked    briftles  :    the 

^^iwhole  body  is  covered  with  a  fmooth,  foft,  aflicoloured  flcin, 
.fpotted  partly  with  black   and  tawny.      This   fpecies  of  animals, 

.  as  well  as  the  two  former,  are  almofl;  totally  extinft.  A  Lyn- 
cean  academician,    named    Giovanni   Fabri,   has   endeavoured  to 

,,  prove,    that    the    xoloitzcuintli  is   the    fame   with    the    wolf  of 

;  Mpxico  ;   but  this  is  denied  by  Clavigero. 

An  animal  called  ocotochtli,  a  kind  of  wild  cat,  is  remarka- 
ble more  for  the  fabulous  account  of  it,  than  for  any  Angular 
prQgerty,with  which  it  is  really  endowed.  According  to  Dr. 
Hernandez,    when    this    creature   takes   any    prey,    it    covers  it 

N    ? 


92  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION  OF 

with  leaves,  and  afterwards  mounting  on  fome  neighbouring 
tree,  it  begins  howling  to  invite  other  animals  to  eat  its  prey, 
being  itfelf,  always  the  laft  to  eat,  becaufe  the  poifon  of  its 
tongue  is  fo  flrong,  that  if  it  ate  firft  the  prey  would  be  infeft- 
ed,-.and  other  animals  which  eat  of  it  would  die.  To  the f© 
muft  be  added  a  curious  animal  of  the  mole  kind,  which  is 
called  tozan,  or  tuza  ;  it  is  about  the  fize  of  an  European  mole, 
but  very  different  otherwife.* 

The  birds  are  fo  numerous,  and  of  fuch  various  appearances 
and  qualities,  that  Mexico  has  been  called  the  country  of 
birds  as  Africa  is  of  quadrupeds.  Though  Hernandez  palTes 
over  a  great  number  of  fpecies,  he  yet  delcribes  above  two 
hundred  peculiar  to  the  country.  He  allows  to  the  eagles  and 
hawks  of  Mexico  a  fuperiority  over  thofe  of  Europe ;  and  the 
falcons  of  this  country  were  formerly  efteemed  fo  excellent, 
that,  by  the  dcfire  of  Philip  II.  an  hundred  of  them  were 
ient  every  year  over  to  Spain.  The  largefl,  the  moft  beautiful, 
and  the  moft  valuable  kind  of  eagles  is  called  by  the  Mexicans 
itzquauhili,  and  will  purfue  not  only  the  larger  kind  of  birds, 
but  quadrupeds,   and  even  men. 

The  aquatic  birds  are  very  numerous  and  of  great  variety  : 
there  are  at  leaft  twenty  Ipecies  of  ducks,  a  vaft  number  of 
geefe,  with  Several  kinds  of  herons,  great  number  of  fwans, 
quails,  water-rails,  divers,  king's  fifhers,  pelicaps,  &c.  The 
multitude  of  ducks  is  fometimes  fo  great,  that  they  cover  the 
fields,  and  appear  at  a  diftance  like  flocks  of  flieep.  Some 
of  the  herons  and  egrets  are  perfeftly  white,  fome  afh-colour- 
ed :  others  have  the  plumage  of  the  body  white,  while 
the  neck,  with  the  tops  and  upper  part  of  the  wings,  and 
part  of  the  tail,  are  enlivened  with  a  bright  fcarlet,  or  beau- 
tiful blue. 

There   are   a   great   number   of  birds  valuable   on    account  of 
their    plumage,   which    was  made    ufe    of  by    the    Mexicans  in 
their   excellent    Mofaic    works,  an   art    which   feems  now  to  be 
totally  loftk      Peacocks  have  been  carried  from  the  old  contiirent 
to  Mexico  :.  but    not    being    attended    to,  have  propagated  very    ;: 
llowly.       The    birds    remarkable    for    their    fong    are    likewilel;?. 
very    numerous;     among    which    that    called     the     cci"itzorvitl,\>.£ 
by   Europeans   the   mocking-bird,   is   the    moft    remarkable,   on     ■ 
account  of  its   counterfeiuiig  naturtilly  the    notes    of  all   other* 
it  hears.  ;;' 

,,.■>.  I'-C- 

*'For  *pQfc  particular  account  of  ihcfe  animals  fee  HiHory  of  (Quadrupeds   .,; 
annexed. 


MEXICO,  OR  }^'EW-SPAIN.  93 

Mexico,  like  all  other  American  countries,  abourrds  with 
reptiles,  many  of  them  of  an  enormous  fizc.  The  crocodiles 
are  not  lefs  to  be  dreaded  than  thofe  of  Africa  or  Afia ;  and 
there  are  likewife  fome  of  thoie  monflrous  ferpents  met  witlx^ 
in  the  Eaft-Indies  and  in  South-America,  though  happily  the 
Ipecies  of  thofe  terrible  creatures  leems  to  be  nearly  extinft^ 
as  they  are  feldom  to  be  found  but  in  fome  lolitary  wood,  or 
other  remote  place.  There  are  great  numbers  of  lizards,  fome 
of  which  the  people  fuppofe  to  be  poifonous  ;  but  others  think 
this  opinion  ill-founded.  There  are  feveral  kinds  of  poifonous 
'  ferpents,  of  which  the  rattle-fnake  is  one.  The  cenocoatl  is 
another  poifonous  ferpent,  and  remarkable  for  having  a  lumi- 
nous appearance  in  the  dark  ;  by  which,  as  by  the  rattle  in  the 
tail  of  the  former,  travellers  are  warned  to  avoid  it.  Among 
the  harmlefs  fnakes  is  a  very  beautiful  one  about  a  foot  in 
length,  and  of  the  thicknefs  of  the  little  finger  ;  it  appears  to 
take  great  pleafure  in  the  fociety  of  ants,  infomuch  that  it  will 
accompany  thefe  infefts  upon  their  expeditions,  and  leturn 
with  them  to  their  ufual  neft  ;  it  is  called  both  by  the  Mexicans 
and  Spaniards  the  "  mother  of  the  ants  ;"  but  Clavigero  fup- 
'  pofes,  that  all  the  attachment  which  the  fnake  fhews  to  the 
fint-hills  proceeds  from  its  living  on  the  ants  themfelvcs.  The 
ancient  Mexicans  were  wont  to  take  delight  in  keeping  an 
harmlefs  green  fnake,  which  they  catched  in  the  fields,  and 
which,  when  well  fed,  would  grow  to  the  length  of  five  or  fix 
feet.  It  was  generally  kept  in  a  tub,  which  it  never  left  but 
to  receive  food  from  the  hand  of  its  mailer  ;  and  this  it  would 
take  either  iriOunted  on  his  fhoulder  or  coiled  about  his  legs. 

The  aquatic  animals  are  innumerable.  Clavigero  mentions  a 
fpecies  ot  frogs  fo  laige  that  a  fingle  one  will  weigh  a  pound, 
and  which  are  excellent  food.  Of  fifh  proper  for  food,  he 
fays,  that  he  has  counted  upwards  of  one  hundred  fpecies, 
without,.t3lviiig  in  the  turtle,  crab,  lobfler,  or  any  other  crufta- 
ceous  animal. 

Of  flying  and  other  minute  infefts  the  number  is  prodi- 
gioufly  great.  There  are  a  variety  of  beetles  ;  fome  of  a  green 
colour  make  a  great  noife  in  flying,  on  which  account  children 
are  fond  of  them.  There  are  great  numbers  of  fliining  beetles, 
which  make  a.,  delightful  appearance  at  night,  as  well  as  the  < 
luminous  flies  which  abound  in  the  country.  There  are  fix 
kinds  of  bees  and  four  kinds  of  wafps  ;  of  which  laft,  one 
eoUefts  wax  and  honey  of  a  very  Iweet  tafte  :  another  is  cal- 
led the;  %'ahderihg   wafp,  from   its   frequent  change   of  abode; 


9.4 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 


and  in  confequcnce  of  thf-fe  changes,  it  is  conftantly  employed 
in  coJ)e£iing  materials  for  its  habitations.  There  is  alfo  a  black 
iiornet  with  a  red  tail,  the  fting  of  which-is  fo  large  and  ftrong, 
that  it  will  not  only  penetrate  a  fngar-cane,  but  even  the  trunk 
of  a  tree.  The  lake  of  Mexico  abounds  with  a  kind  of  flv, 
the  eggs  or  which  are  depofited  upon  the  flags  and  rufhes  in 
fuch  q^aantities  as  to  form  large  maffes  ;  thefe  are  collefted  by 
the  fiihcrmen,  and  carried  to  market  for  fale  :'  they  are  eaten  by 
both  Mexicans  and  Spaniards,  and  have  much  the  fame  tafte  as 
the  cavijire  of  fifh  :  the  Mexicans  eat  alfo  the  flies  themfelves, 
ground  and  made  up  \\'ith  falt-petre.  There  are  abundance  of 
gnats  in  the  moift  places  and  lakes,  but  the  capital,  though 
fuuated  upon  a  lake,  h  entirely  free  from  them.  There  are 
other  flies  whicli  make  no  lioife  in  their  flight,  but  caufe  a  vio- 
lent itching  l;y  their  bite,  and  if  the  part  be  fcratched,  an  open 
wound  IS  apt  to  enfue.  The  butterflies  are  in  vaft  numbers, 
and.  their  wings  glow  with  colours  far  fuperior  to  thofe  of 
Europe  ;  the  figures  of  f(ime  of  them  are  given  by  Hernandez, 
feut  notWithftanding  its  beauties  and  advantages,  Mexico  is 
lubjcft  to  the  dreadful  devaftations  of  locufts,  which  fometimes 
^ccaflon.the  moft  deflruftive  famines. 

There  are  fome  of  the  worm.s  of  Mexico  made  ufe  of  by  the 
inhabitants  as  food,  others  are  poifonous.  There  are  great 
numbers  of  fcolopendrce  and  fcorpions,  lome  of  the  former 
growing  to  an  immenfe  fize.  Hernandez  fays,  that  he  has  feen 
iom^  Q,f  them  two  feet  long  and  two  inches  thick.  The  fcor^ 
pipns  a,re  ypvy  numerous,  and  in  the  hot  parts  of  the  country 
their  poifon  is  fo  fl;rong  as  to  kill  children,  and  give  terrible  pain 
to  adults.  Their  fling  is  moft  dangerous  during  thofe  hours  of 
the  d:v  in  which  the  fun  is  hocteft.  In  the  province  of 
^^liehuacim  is  a  lingular  fpecies  of  ant,  larger  than  the  common 
ione,  with  a  greyifn  body  and  black  head  ;  «m  its  hinder  part 
is  a  little  bag  full  of  a  Iweet  lubftance,  of  which  children  are 
very  fond  :  the  Mexicans  luppole  this  to  be  a  kind  of  honey 
collefted  by  the  infeft;  hut  Clavigero  thinks  it  miher  is  its 
eggs.  There  is  a  mil'chicvous  kind  of  tick,  which  in  the  hot 
countries  abounds  among  the  gra(s  :  from  thence  it  .  e^Cdy  .gets 
upon  the  clothes,  and  from  them  upon  tlic  flcin  ;  there  it  fixes 
with  fuch  force,  from  the  particular  figure  of  its  feet^  that  it 
can  (carecly  be  got  off:  at  firft  it  fcems  nothing  but  a  fmalli  black 
^P?cl^,,  but  .jn,  a  fliort  time  enlarges  to  luch  a  degree,  from  the 
blood  which  it  fucks,  that  it  equals  the  fize  oi  a  bean,  and 
then  aflfumcs  a  leaden  colour.      Oviedo    lays,   that    the    beft  and 


MEXICO,  0  R  NE IV-SP  A  IN.  g^ 

fcfeft    n-ietTiod   of   getting    fpeedily    lid    of  it    is    by    anointing 
the  part  with  oil,   and   then  fcraping   it   with   a   knife.      If  it  is 
not  fpeedily    removed,   a  wound  is    made   fimilar  to'  inat'wKicTi 
the  nigera  or  chegoe  makes.      The  following  infcfts   were  eaten 
by  the  ancient  Mexicans  :    i.   The  atelepitz,   a   m-ardi  beetle,  re-   • 
ferntli^ig  in  fhape  and  fi.ze  the  flyaig  beetles,   having    fotft^'  f?£t. 
and  covered  with  a  hard  fhell.       2.   The  atopinan,  a  marfh  grafs- 
hopper  of  a  dark  colour  and  great  lize,    being   not   lefs   than  fix 
inches  long  and  two  broad.      3.   The  ahuihuitla^  a  worm  which 
inhabits  the  Mexican  Like,   four  inches  long,   and  of  the   thick- 
nefs  of  a  goofe  quill,    of  a    tawny  colour   on    the   upper   part  of 
the   body,   and    white   upon    the   under  part  ;   it    flings   with  its 
tail,    which    is   hard  and   poifonous*      4.   The  ocuiliztac,  a  black 
maifli-worm,   which  becomes   white  on  being  roafted. 

Among  the  curious  produftions  of  the  aniraal  kind  to  be  met 
with  in  this  country,  Clavigero  mentions  a  kind  of  zoophytes, 
wbich  he  faw  in  the  year  1751,  in  a  houfe  in  the  country, 
about  ten  miles  from  Angelopoli,  towards  the  fouth-eaft :  they 
were  three  or  four  inches  long,  and  had  four  very  {lender  feet, 
with  two  antenna;  ;  but  their  body  was  nothing  more  than  the 
fibres  of  the  leaves,  of  the  fame  fliape,  fize  and  colour,  witji 
thofe  of  the  other  leaves  of  the  trees  upon  which  thefe  creatures 
were  found.  Gemelli  defcribes  another  kind  of  thefe  zoophytes 
which  are  found  in    Manilla. 

Mexico  produces  alio  filk-worms ;  and  the  manufafture  of 
filk  might  be  carried  on  to  great  advantage,  were  it  not  prohi- 
bited for  fome  political  reafons.  Befides  the  common  filk,  there 
is  another  found  in  the  woods,  very  white,  foft  and  ftrong. 
It  grows  on  the  trees  in  feveral  maritime  places,  particularly  in 
dry  lea  Ion  s  :  unlets  by  por>r  people,  however,  this  filk  is  not 
turned  to  any  ufe,  partly  from  inattention  to  their  interefts,  but 
>•  chiefly,"  fays  Clavigcro,  "  to  the  obftruftions  which  would 
be  thrown  in  the  way  of  any  one  who  fnould  attempt  a  trade 
of  that  kind.  We  know  from  Cortcs's  letters  to  Charles  V. 
that  filk  ufed  to  be  fold  in  the  Mexican  markets  :  and  fome  pic- 
tures are  flill  preferved,  done  by  the  ancient  Mexicans  upon  a 
paper  made  of  filk." 

Cochineal  is  one  of  the  mod  valuable  products  of  Mexico, 
and  great  care  is  taken  to  rear  the  inletl  in  different  parts; 
but  the  beft  is  that  which  comes  from  the  province  of  Mizteca: 
fome  have  reckoned,  that  more  than  two  thoufand  five  hundred 
bagi^icrf^^oichineal  are  -fent  «V«ry  yea'r  frotii'Miztdci'  to  Spain  ; 


96  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OP 

and   the    trade    in   that  article  carried  on  by  the  city  of  Oaxaca 
is  computed  at  two  hundred  thoufand  crowns  value. 

Though  Mexico  was  originally  inhabited  by  a  number  of 
different  nations,  yet  all  of  them  refembled  each  other  pretty 
much,  not  only  in  charafter,  but  in  external  appearance. 
"  They  generally  rather  exceed,"  fays  Clavigero,  "  than  fall 
under  the  middle  fize,  and  are  well-proportioned  in  all  their 
limbs :  they  have  good  complexions,  narrow  foreheads,  black 
eyes,  clean,  firm,  white  and  regular  teeth  ;  thick,  black,  coarfe, 
gloffy  hair  ;  thin  beards,  and  generally  no  hair  upon  their  legs, 
thighs  and  arms,  their  fkin  being  of  an  olive  colour.  There 
is  fcarcely  a  nation  on  earth  in  which  there  are  fewer  perfons 
deformed  :  and  it  would  be  more  difhcult  to  find  a  fingle  hump- 
backed, lame  or  fquint-eyed  man  among  a  thoufand  Mexicans, 
than  among  an  hundred  of  any  otlier  nation.  The  unpleafant- 
nefs  of  their  colour,  the  fmallnefs  of  their  foreheads,  the 
thinnefs  of  their  beards,  and  the  coarfenefs  of  their  hair,  are 
fo  far  compenfated  by  the  regularity  and  fine  proportion  of 
their  limbs,  that  they  can  neither  be  called  very  beautiful  nor 
the  contrary,  but  feem  to  hold  a  middle  place  between  the 
extremes :  their  appearance  neither  engages  nor  difgufts ;  but 
among  the  young  women  of  Mexico  there  are  many  very  beau- 
tiful and  fair,  whole  beauty  is  at  the  fame  time  rendered  more 
winning  by  the  natural  fweetnefs  of  their  manner  of  fpeaking, 
and  by  the  pleafantnefs  and  natural  modefty  of  thfir  whole 
behaviour.  Their  fenfes  are  very  acute,  efpecially  that  of 
fight,  which  they  enjoy  unimpaired  to  the  latefh  age.  Their 
conftitutions  are  found  and  their  health  robuft  :  they  are  en- 
tirely free  of  many  diforders  which  are  common  among  the 
Spaniards  ;  but  of  the  epidemical  difeafes  to  which  their  coun- 
try is  occafionally  fubjeft  they  are  generally  the  viftims  :  with 
them  thefe  difeafes  begin,  and  with  them  they  end.  One  never 
perceives  in  a  Mexican  that  ftinking  breath  which  is  occa- 
fioned  in  other  people  by  the  corruption  of  the  humours  or 
indigeftion  :  their  conftitutions  are  phlegmatic  ;  but  the  pitui- 
tous  evacuations  from  their  heads  are  very  fcanty,  and  they 
feldom  fpit.  They  become  grey-headed  and  bald  earlier  than 
the  Spaniards  ;  and  although  moft  of  them  die  with  acute 
difeafes,  it  is  not  very  uncommon  among  them  to  attain  the 
age  of  an  hundred.  They  are  now,  and  ever  have  been, 
moderate  in  eating,  but  their  palTion  for  ftrong  liquors  is 
carried  to  the  greateft  exccfs  :  formerly  they  were  kept  within 
bounds  by  the   feverity  of  the  laws,  but  now  that  theie  liquors 


M'E  ,\  I C  0,  OR   NE  W-  S  P  A  I N,  9  7 

g're  'become  fo  common,  and  drunkennefs  is  unpunifhci^,  one-half 
bf 'the' people  fecm  to  have  loft  their  fenfes  ;  and.this,  tr-gctheii: 
with  the  poor  manner  in  wliich  they  live,  cxpof«?d  to  all;  the 
baneful  nnpreffions  of  difeafe,  and  dellitute  of  tlie  means  of  cor- 
I'etlint  them,,  is  undoubtedly  the  principal  caufe  ot  tlic  h.i'/oj 
iv^'ich'is  mi'ade  amoncr  them  by  epidemical  dilordcrS.  • 
'  ■"  Many  perfons  allow  the  Mexicans  to  poffcfs  a  great' talent^ 
6f  'imUritidn,  but  deny  them  that  of  inventixm  ;  a  vulgar  errorj^- 
wlfi'cn  is_  cphtradifted  by  the  ancient  hiftory  of*,  tnat"  pcopfe. 
Th'e'iPmiirfd^  are  affcfted  by  the  fame  variety  bf  oaftion's  vvitk 
tJ-rbfe  bf  ether  nations,  but  not  to  an  equal  degree  •  the  Mexicani' 
feldbm  exhibit  thole  franfports  of  anger,  or  frenzies  of  love, 
■ivlii'ch'^r'e' fb  cofTimon  in  other  countries.  They  are  flow  in  tlieii' 
motioiis,  ahd  fHev^'  a  v^^onderful  tenacity  and  ftcaJinefs  in  thofs, 
Works  vvhich  require  time  and  long-continued  attention.  They 
are "liioft  patient  of  injury  and  hardfhip,  and  where  tKey  .fufpeft 
tio  evil  intention,  are  moft  grateful  for  any  kindnefs  fhewn;  but 
fome  Spaniards,  who  cannot  diftinguifli  patience  from  infenfi- 
b'ility,  noi:  diflruft  from  ingratitude,  fay  proverbially,  that  the, 
Indians  are  alike  infenfible  to  injuries  or  benefits.  That  habitual 
diftruft  which  thej'  entertain  of  all  who  arc  not  of  their  nation, 
prompts  them  often  to  lye  and  betray  ;  fo  that  good  faith  cer- 
tainly has  not  been  refpefted  among  them  fo  much  as  it  deferves. 
They  aJ-e  by  nature  tacituin,  ferious  and  auftere,  and  fnew  more 
anxiety  to  punifli  crimes  than  to  reward  virtue. 

"  Generofuy  and  perfeft  dlfintereflednefs  aj-e  the  principal 
features  of  their  chara£?:er.  Gold,  with  the  Mexicans,  lias  not 
that  value  Which  it  enjoys  elfewhere.  They  feem  to  give  with- 
out reluftance  what  has  coft  ihem  the  utmofl  labour  to  acquire. 
The  negleft  of  felfifh  interefts,  with  the  diflike  which  they  bear 
to  their  rulers,  and  confequently  their  averfion  to  perform  the! 
{afks  impofed  by  them,  leem  to  have  been  the  only  grounds  ol" 
that  much  exaggerated  indolence  with  which  the  Americans  have 
been  charged;  and,  after  all,  there  is  no  let  of  people  in  that 
Country  who  labour  nioiCj  or  whofe  labour  is  more  neceffarv. 
The  refpeft'pald  by  the  young  people  to  the  old,  and  by  chil- 
dren to  their  parents,  feem  to  be  feelings  that  are  born  with 
them.  Pa;f  nts  are  veiy  fond  of  their  children  ;  but  the  aiFeftion 
which  hufljands  bear  to  iheir  wives  is  certainly  lefs  than  that 
which  wives  bear  to-  their  hufbands  ;  find  it  i^  very,  common 
for  the  mei)   to  icve  their  neighbour  s  wives    better   than   theif 


o 


58  CF.NERAL  DESCRIPTION  Ot 

"  Courage  aiid  cowardice  feem  alternately  fo  to  afFe^  their 
tninds,  that  it  is  often  difficult  to  determine  whether  the  one 
or  the  other  predominntes :  they  meet  dangers  with  intrepidity 
•tvhen  they  proceed  from  natural  caufes,  but  are  eaftly  terrified 
fcy  the  f^ern  look  of  a  Spaniard.  That  ftupid  indifference 
about  death  and  eternity,  which  many  authors  have  thought 
inherent  in  the  cha rafter  of  every  American,  is  peculiar  only 
to  thofe"  who  are  yet  fo  rude  and  uninformed  as  to  have  no  idea 
of  a  future  flatc." 

Thus  much  with  rcfpef^  to  the  general  charafter  of  the 
Mexicans ;  but  Cfavigero  obfervcs,  that  "  the  modern  Mexi- 
cans are  not  in  all  refpefts  fimilar  to  the  ancient,  as  the  Greeks 
of  thefe  days  have  little  refemblance  to  thofc  who  lived  in 
the  times  of  Flato  and  Pericles.  The  antient  Pvlexicans  fhewed 
more  -fire,  and  were  more  fenlible  to  the  impreiTions  of  honour  ; 
theV  were  more  intrepid,  more  nimble,  more  aftive,  more 
induftrious  ;  but  they  were  at  the  fame  time  more  fuperftitious 
and  cruel." 

The  principal  inhabitants  of  Mexico,  in  modern  times,  ar^ 
Spaniards  fent  thither  by  the  court,  to  fill  the  ports  of  govern- 
tnent.  "^  They  are  obliged,  like  thofe  in  the  mother  country 
who  afpire  to  any  ccclefiaftical,  civil  or  military  employments* 
lo  prove,  that  there  have  been  neither  heretics,  Jews,  Mahom- 
medans,  nor  any  perfon  in  their  family  who  have  been  called 
before  the  inquifition  for  four  generations.  Merchants  who 
are  deflrous  of  going  to  Mexico,  as  well  as  to  other  pnrts  of 
America,  without  becoming  colonif^s,  are  compelled  to  obferve! 
the  lame  forms :  they  are  alfo  obliged  to  fwear  that  they  have; 
three  hundred  palms  of  merchandile,  their  own  property,  in 
the  fleet  in  which  they  embark,  and  that  they  will  not  Carry 
their  wives  with  them.  On  thefe  abfurd  conditions  they  be-' 
ccrriP  the  principal  agents  of  the  European  commerce  with  the 
Jpdics,  Though  their  charter  is  only  to  continue  three  years 
and  a  little  longer  for  countries  more  remote,  it  is  of  great 
importance.  To  them  alone  belongs  the  right  of  felling,  as 
commillioners,  the  major  part  of  the  cargOj  If  thefe  laws 
were  obiervcd,  the  merchants  flationed  in  the  new  world 
would  be  confined  to  difpofe  of  what  they  have  received  on 
their  own  account. 

The  prcdilcftion  \^  hich  the  adrniniflratioTi  has  for  Spaniards 
born  in  Europe,  has  reduced  the  Spanifh  Creoles  to  acquiclce 
in  fubordinate  ftations.  The  defcendants  of  the  companions  of 
Cortes,  and  of  thoie  wlio  caime  after  them,  being  conflantly 
excluded  from   all  places   of  honour    or   of  Iruft  that  were  anv 


MEXICO,  OR  NEWS  P  A  IN.  99 

way  confiderable,  have  feen  the  gradual  decay  of  the  power  that 
fupported  their  fathers.  The  habit  of  being  obliged  to  bear  that 
unjuft  contempt  with  which  they  have  been  treated,  has  at  lid 
made  them  become  really  contemptible.  They  have  totally  loft, 
in  the  vices  which  originate  from  indolence,  from  the  h^at  of 
the  clinjate,  and  from  a  fuperfluous  enjoyment  of  all  things,  that 
jfirmnefs  and  that  fort  of  pride  which  have  ever  cliarafterifed 
their  nation.  A  barbarous  luxury,  fhameful  pLeafures,  and  ro- 
mantic intrigues,  have  enervated  all  the  vigour  of  their  minds,  and 
fupefflition  hath  completed  the  ruin  of  their  virtues.  Blindly 
devoted  to  priefls  too  ignorant  to  enlighten  them  by  their  in- 
itruftions,  too  depraved  to  edify  them  by  their  example,  and  too 
mercenary  to  attend  to  both  thefe  duties  of  their  funftion,  they 
have  no  attachment  to  any  part  of  their  religion  but  that  which 
enfeebles  the  mind,  and  have  neglcfted  what  might  have  centric 
buted  to  reftify  their  morals. 

The  Meftees,  who  conftitute  the  third  order  of  citizens,  are 
Jield  in  ftill  greater  contempt.  It  is  well  known  that  the 
court  of  Madrid,  in  order  to  replenifh  a  part  of  that  dreadful 
vacancy  which  the  avarice  and  cruelty  of  the  conquerors  had 
occafioned,  and  to  regain  the  confidence  of  thofc  who  had  ef- 
caped  their  fury,  encouraged  as  much  as  pofTible  the  marriage 
of  Spaniards  with  Indian  v^omen :  thefe  alliances,  which  be- 
came pre'.ty  common  throughout  all  America,  were  particularly 
frequent  in  Mexico,  wlaere  the  women  had  more  underftanding 
and  were  more  agreeable  than  in  other  places.  The  Creoles 
transferred  to  this  mixed  progeny  the  contemptuous  flight  they 
received  from  the  Europeans.  Their  condition,  equivocal  at 
ft:  ft,  in  procels  of  time  was  fiyed  between  the  whites  and  the 
blacks. 

Thefe  blacks  are  not  very  numerous  in  Mexico.  As  the  ne- 
tive.s  are  more  intelligent,  more  robuft  and  more  induihrious, 
than  ,thofe  of  the  other  colonies,  they  have  hardly  introduced 
any  Africans  except  fuch  as  were  required  either  to  indulge 
the  caprice,  or  perform  the  domeftic  lervjce  of  rich  people. 
Thefe  flaves,  who  are  much  beloved  by  their  mailers,  on  whom 
they  abfolutely  depend,  who  purchafed  them  at  an  extravagant 
price,  and  who  make  them  the  minifters  of  their  plcafures, 
take  advantage  of  the  high  favour  they  enjoy  to  opprefs  the 
Mexicans:  they  alfume  oyer  thele  men,  wlio  are  called //-ee,  a^i 
aicendency  which  keeps  up  an  implacabje  hatred  between  the 
t,wo  nations.  The  law  has  fludied  to  encourage  this  averfion. 
by   taking  effcaual  mealures  to  p-cvent  all  cor^ncQAon  bciwcLni 

O  2 


leo  GENEP^AL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

them;v'  Negroes  are  piohibitcd  from  having  any  amorous  cor- 
relpondence  with  the  Indians  ;  the  men  on  pain  of  being 
mutikted ;  the  women,  of  being  feverely  punifned.  Gn  all 
thefe  accounts,  the  Africans,  who  in  other  fettlements  are 
enemies  tc  Europeans,  are  in  the  Spanifii  Indies  their  war.m 
•frieiidsi,    .1 

■':  Authority  hts  no  need  of  this  iuppoit,  at  leafl  in  Mexico, 
iv'her<  .population  is  no  longer  what  it  was  formerly.  The  firli 
Jiilloiians,  and  thofe  who  copied  them,  have  recorded,  that 
the  ,$j,.:niards  found  there  ten  millions  of  fouls.  This  is  fup- 
pofed  to  have  been  the  exaggerated  account  of  conquerors,  to 
exalt' ;iiie,  nidgniiicence  of  their  triumph  ;  and  it  vv-as  adoptedj 
without  examination,  with  fo  much  the  more  readinefs,  as  it 
rendered  them  the  more  odious.  We  need  only  trace  with 
attention  (.lie  progrels  of  thofe  ruffians  who  at  firft  delolated 
thefe  fine  countries,  in  order  to  be  convinced  that  they  had  not 
(uccceded  in  multiplying  men  at  Mexico  and  the  adjacent  parts, 
but  by  depopulating  tl.e  center  of  the  empire  t  and  that  the  pro^' 
vinces  which  are  remote  from  the  capital,  differed  in  nothing 
from  the  other  deferts  of  South  and  North- America.  It  is 
ricking  a  great  conceuion,  to  allow  that  the  population  of 
Mexico  lias  only  been  exaggerated .  one-half,  for  it  does  not 
now  much  exceed  two  millions. 

It  is  generally  believed,  that  the  f.ift  conquerors  maffacred 
the  Indians  out  of  wantonnefs,  and  that  even  the  priefts  incited 
them  to  thefe  a£ls  of  ferocity.  Undoubtedly  thefe  inhuman 
foluiers  frequently  filed  blood  without  even  an  apparent  motive  ; 
and  certainly  their  fanatic  miflionaries  did  not  cppof'c  thefe 
barbarities  as  they  ought  to  have  done.  This  was  not,  however, 
the  rc^l  caufe,  the  principal  'fource  of  the  depopulation  "of 
Mexico  ;  it  was  the  work  of  a  flow  tyranny,  and  of  that  avarice 
wliich  exafted  from  its  wretched  inhabitants  more  rigorous 
toil  than  was  compatible  with  their  conftitution  and  the 
clniiatc. 

This  oppreffion  was  coeval  with  the  conqucfl  of  the  country. 
All  the  lands  were  divided  between  tlie  crown,-  '^h^  tom- 
pan,ions  of  Cortes,  and  the  grandees  or  minifters  wHd  were 
mod  in  favour  at  the  court  of  Spain.  The  Mexicans,  appoint- 
ed to  the  royal  domains,  were  deftincd*  to  public  labours, 
which  originally  were  confiderable.  The  lot  of  thbffe  who 
were  employtd  on  the  eftates  of  individuals  vi'as -'flPlT  iriore 
wretched:  all  groaned  under  a  dreadful  yoke  ;  they;Were  ill 
kd,  they  had  no  wages  given  them,  and  fervices  were  required 
of  llicm,  uiKler  which  the   moft   robuft  n;en  would  have  funk  : 


MEXICO,  OR  NEW-SPAIN.  i©t 

their   misfortunes   excited  the    compaffion  of  Bartholomew   dc 
las  Cafas. 

This  man,  fo  famous  in  the  annals  of  the  new  world,  had 
accompanied  his  father  in  the  firft  voyage  made  by  Columbus, 
The  mildnefs  and  fimplicity  of  the  Indians  affcfted  him  fo 
ftrongly,  that  he  made  himfejf  an  ecclefiailic,  in  order  to 
devote  his  labours  to  their  converfion  ;  but  this  foon  became 
j:he  leaft  of  his  attention.  As  he  was  more  a  man  than  a  prieft, 
he  felt  more  for  the  cruellies  exercifed  againft  them  than  for 
their  fuperftitions.  He  was  continually  hurrying  from  one 
hemifphere  to  the  other,  in  order  to  comfort  the  people  for 
whom  he  had  conceived  an  attachment,  or  to  foften  their  tyrants. 
This  conduft,  which  made  him  idolized  by  the  one,  and  dreadr 
ed  by  the  otlier,  had  not  the  fuccefs  he  expefted.  The  hope 
of  ftrikmg  awe,  by  a  charafter  revered  smong  the  Spaniards, 
determined  him  to  accept  the  bifliopric  of  Chiapa  in  Mexico. 
When  he  was  convinced  that  this  dignity  was  an  infufiicient 
.barrier  againft  that  avarice  and  cruelty  which  he  endeavoured 
to  check,  he  abdicated  it.  It  was  then  that  this  courageous, 
firm,  difintcrefted  man,  accufed  his  country  before  the  tribunal 
of  the  whole  univerfe.  In  his  account  of  the  tyranny  of 
the  Spaniards  in  America,  he  accufes  them  of  having  deftroyed 
fifteen  millions  of  the  Indians.  They  ventured  to  find  fault 
with  the  acrimony  of  his  flile,  but  no  one  convifted  him  of 
exaggeration.  His  writings,  which  indicate  the  amiable  turn 
of  his  difpohtion,  and  the  fublimity  of  his  fentiments,  have 
ftamped  a  dilgrace  upon  his  barbarous  countrymen,  which 
time    hath  not,  nor  never  will  efface.  ' 

The  court  of  Madrid,  awakened  by  the  reprefentations  of 
the  virtuous  Las  Cafas,  and  by  the  indignation  of  the  whole 
xvorld,  became  fenfible  at  lafl,  that  the  tyranny  it  permitted  was 
Repugnant  to  religion,  to  humanity,  and  to  policy,  and  refolved 
to  break  the  chains  of  the  JTexicans.  Their  liberty  was  now 
only  conftrained  by  the  fole  condition,  that  they  fhould  not 
quit  the  territory  where  they  were  fettled.  This  precaution 
pwed  its  origin  to  the  fear  that  was  entertained  of  their  going 
to  join  the  wandering  favages  to  the  north  and  fouth  of  the 
empire. 

With  their  liberty  their  lands  ought  alio  to  have  been  reftored 
to  them,  but  this  was  not  done.  This  injuftice  compelled  them 
to  work  folely  for  their  opprefTors.  It  was  only  decreed,  that 
the  Spaniards,  in  whofe  fervice  they  laboured,  Pnould  ftipulate 
to  keep  them  well,  and  pay  them  to  the  amount  of  five  pounds 
i^ve  fhillings  a  year, 


ie2  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION    OF 

From  thefe  profits  the  tribute  impofed  by  government  was  (uh^ 
trafted,  together  with  four  fhillings  and  four-pence  ha-lf-penny 
for  an  inflitution,  which  is  aflonifhing  the  conquerors  fhould 
Jiave  thought  of  eftablifhing.  This  was  a  fund  let  apart  in  each 
community,  and  appropriated  to  the  relief  of  fuch  Indians  as 
were  decayed  or  indilpofed,  and  to  their  fupport  under  private 
or  public  calamities. 

The  diftribution  of  this  fund  was  committed  to  their  caciques, 
Thefe  were  not  the  defccndants  of  thofc  whom  they  found  in 
the  country  at  the  time  of  the  conqueft;.  The  Spaniards  chofe 
them  from  among  thofe  Indians  who  appeared  the  moft  attached 
to  their  interefts,  and  v/ere  under  no  appreheriQon  at  making 
thefe  dignities  hereditary.  Their  authority  was  limited  to  the 
fupporting  the  police  in  their  diftrift,  which  in  general  extended 
eight  or  ten  leagues,  to  the  collctting  the  tribute  of  thofe  In- 
dians who  laboured  on  their  own  account,  that  of  the  others 
being  ftopt  by  the  mailers  whom  they  lerved,  and  to  the  pre- 
venting their  flight  by  keeping  them  always  under  their  infpec- 
tion,  and  not  fuffering  them  to  contraft  any  engagemeot  without 
their  confent.  As  a  reward  of  their  fervices,  thefe  magi  Urates 
obtained  from  government  a  propertj'.  They  were  permitted  to 
take  out  of  the  co^mmon  ilock  two-pence  half-penn^/  annually, 
for  every  Indian  under  their  jurifdiftion.  At  laft  they  were 
empowered  to  get  their  fields  cultivated  by  fuch  young  men  as 
were  not  yet  fubjeft  to  the  poll-tax  :  and  to  employ  girls  till  the 
time  of  their  marriage,  in  iuch  occupations  as  were  adapted  to 
thsir  fex,  without  allowing  them  any  ialary  except  their  main- 
tenance, 

Thefe  inllitvitions,  which  totally  changed  th«  condition  of 
the  Indians  in  Mexico,  irritated  the  Spaniards  to  a  degree  not  to 
be  conceived.  Their  pride  would  not  iuffer  them  to  confider 
the  Americans  as  free  men,  nor  would  their  avarice  permit  thenj 
to  pay  for  labour  which  hitherto  had  coft  them  nothing.  They 
i^mployed  themfelve.s  fuccefhvely,  or  in  combination,  craft,  re- 
inonitrances,  and  violence,  to  elfeft  the  fubverfion  of  an  arrange- 
ment which  lo  fhrongly  contradifted  their  warmcfl  pafliohs  ;  but 
iheir  eftorts  were  ineffetlual.  Las  Cafas  had  railed  up  for  his 
beloved  Indians  proteftois  who  fecondcd  his  dcHgn  -with  zeal 
^^.d  warmth.  The  Mexicans  themfelves  finding  a  fupport,  im- 
peached their  oppreilors  before  the  tiibunals,  and  even  the  tri- 
nunals  that  were  either  weak  or  in  the  intereft  of  the  court, 
J  hey    carried    their     reiolution    fo    far,    as    even     unanimoufly 


Mexico,  or  ne iv. s pain.  lag 

to  refufe  to  work  for  thofe  who  had  treated  any  of  their  coun- 
trymen with  injuflice.  This  mutual  agreement,  more  than  any 
6ther  circumftance,  gave  folidity  to  the  regulations  which  had 
beert  decreed  :  the  other,  prefcribed  by  the  laws,  was  gradually 
eftabliflicd.  There  was  no  longer  any  regular  iyilem  of  oppref- 
fion,  but  merely  feveral  of  thoi'e  particular  vexations  which  a 
vanquiflied  people,  who  have  loll  their  government^  can  hardly 
avoid  from  thoie  who  have  lubdued  it. 

Thefe  clandcftine  afts  of  injuftice  did  not  prevent  the  Mexi- 
cans from  recovering,  from  time  to  time,  certain  detached  por- 
tions of  that  immenfe  territory  of  ivhich  their  fathers  had  been 
delpoiIed»  They  purchafed  them  of  the  royal  domain^  or  of  the 
great  proprietors.  It  was  not  their  labour  which  enabled  them 
to  make  thefe  acquifitions  ;  for  this  they  were  indebted  to  the 
iiappinefs  of  having  difcovered,  fome  of  tUem,  mines,  others, 
trealures,  which  had  been  concealed  at  the  time  of  the  conqueft^ 
The  greateft  number  derived  their  refources  from  the  priefts  and 
inonks.   to  whom  the)'  owed  their  exiflence. 

Even  thofe  v»^ho  experienced  a  forturie  lefs  propitious,  pro- 
cured for  themfelves,  by  the  lole  profits  of  their  pay^  more  con- 
Vcnif;nce  than  they  had  enjoyed  before  they  underwent  a  foreign 
■yoi^C^;,  We  fhould  be  very  much  deceived  if  we  fnould  judgs 
pf  the  ancient  profpcrity  of  the  inhabitants  of  Mexico  by  what 
has  been  laid  by  different  writers  of  its  emperor*  its  court,  its 
capital,  and  the  governors  of  its  provinces*  Defpotifm  had 
there  produced  thofe  fatal  effefts  which  it  produces  every  where. 
The  whole  ftate  Was  facrificed  to  the  caprices,  pleafures,  and 
magnificence,  of  a  fmall  number  of  perfons. 

The  government  drew  confiderabie  advantages  from  the  rnines 
■which  it  caufed  to  be  worked,  and  ftill  greater  from  thofe  whicli 
were  in  the  hands  of  individuals.  The  fait  works  greatly  added 
to  its  revenue.  Thofe  who  followed  agriculture,  at  the  time 
of  harvefl;  paid  a  kind  of  a  third  of  all  the  produce  of  the  lands, 
whether  they  belonged  to  them  as  their  own  property,  or  whe- 
ther tliey  were  only  the  farmers  of  them.  Men  who  lived  by 
the  chace,  fifhermen,  potters,  and  all  mechanics,  paid  the  fame 
proportion  of  their  induf^ry  every  month.  Even  the  poor  were 
taxed  at  certain  fixed  contributions,  which  their  labour  or  their 
alms  might  put  them  in  a  condition  to  pay< 

The  Mexicans  are  now  lefs  unhapp  ;  European  fruits,  corn 
and  cattle,  have  rendered  their  food  more  wholeibme,  'agreeablf'. 


104  CENEllAL  DESCRlPTIOls'  G  F 

and  abundant.  Their  houfes  are  better  built,  better  difpofed, 
and  better  furnifhed.  Shoes,  drawers,  fliirts,  a  garment  of  wool 
or  cotton,  a  ruff,  and  a  hat,  conftitute  their  drels.  The  dignity 
tvhich  it  has  been  agreed  to  annex  to  tliefc  enjoyments,  has  mad^ 
them  belter  economiils,  and  more  laborious.  This  cafe,  hbweverj 
is  far  from  being  uhiverlal  ;  it  is  even  very  uncommon  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  mines,  towns,  and  great  roads,  where  tyranny 
fcldom  fleeps  ;  but  we  often  find  it  with  fatisfaftion  in  remote 
Dartt,  where  the  Spaniards  arc  not  numerous,  and  where  they 
have  in  fome  meafurc  become  Mexicans. 

The  empioymenls  of  this  people  are  very  various ;  the  moft 
inlelligcnt,  and  thofe  who  are  in  ealy  circumftances,  devote 
tliemlelves  to  the  moft  neccllary  and  moft  uleful  manufaftures, 
which  are  diiperled  through  the  whole  empire.  The  moft  beau- 
tiful manufuftures  are  ellablilhed  among  the  people  of  Tlafcal  ; 
their  old  capit.il.  and  (he  new  one,  which  is  called  Angelos,  are 
(he  center  of  tliis  induftry';  here  they  manufofture  cloth  that 
is  pretty  fine,  cnticofes  that  have  an  agreeable  appearance,  certairi 
flight  lilks,  good  hats,  gold  lace,  embroidery,  lace,  glades,  and 
a  gi'Cat  deal  of  hard-ware. 

The  care  of  flocks  afForcis  a  maintenance  to  fome  Mexicans, 
whom  fortune  or  nature  have  not  called  to  more  diflinguifhed 
employments.  Arherica,  at  the  time  it  was  dilcovered,  had  nei- 
ther hogs,  fhecp,  oxen,  horfes,  nor  even  any  domeftic  animal. 
Columbus  can  icd  fome  of  thefe  ufeful  animals  to  St.  Domingo, 
from  whence  they  were  generally  difperfcd,  and  at  Mexico  more 
than  any  other  place  ;  thefe  have  multiplied  prodigioufly.  I'hey 
count  their  horned  cattle  by  thoufands,  whofe  fliins  are  becpmd 
an  objcft  of  confidcrable  exportation.  The  horfes  are  degene- 
rated, but  the  quality  is  compenlated  by  the  number.  Hog'S 
laid  is  here  fubflitutcd  for  butter.  Sheep's  wool  is  drj',  coarlcj 
and  bad,  as  it  is  every  where  between  the  tro|)ic?. 

The  vine  and  olive  tree  have  experienced  the  fame  degene- 
racy :  the  cultivation  of  them  v/as  at  firfl:  prohibited,  with  a 
view  of  leaving,  a  free  market  for  the  commodities  of  the  mother 
couatry.  Iri  1706,  pejniiflloa  was  given  to  the  Jefuits,  and  a 
little  afterwards  to  the  Alarquis  Del  Valle,  a  defcendant  from 
Corte?,  to  cultivate  ihem ;  the  attempts  have  not  proved  fuc- 
cclsful.  The  trials,  indeed,  that  have  been  ma<3e^  have  not  been 
abandoned,  but  no  pcrlon  has  folicitcd  the  liberty  of  followin'g 
aQ^fx.a;npl(e   whitii-.  did.  not  promile  any   great    cmolumems.— v 

ic     ■>::.■   io-.^   ^,?.'  i'-v 


MEXICO,  OR  NEVi.SP  AIN,  103 

Other  cultures  have  been  more  fuccefsful  ;  cotton,  fugar, 
filk,  cocoa,  tobacco,  and  European  corn,  have  all  thriven  in 
Come  degree.  The  Spaniards  are  encouraged  to  prolecute  the 
labours  \vh*ch  thefe  cultures  require,  from  the  h;tppy  circuni- 
ftance  of  their  having  difcovered  iron  mines,  which  were  en- 
tirely unknown  to  the  Mexicans,  as  well  as  fome  mines  of^  a 
kind  of  copper  that  is  hard  enough  to  fcrve  for  implements  of 
hulbandry  ;  all  thefe  articles,  however,  for  want  of  men  and 
induftry,  are  merely  cbnfumed  within  the  country.  There  is 
only  the  vanilla,  indigo,  and  cochineal,  which  make  a  part  of 
the  trade  of  Mexico  with  other  nations. 

N  E  W  -  M  E  X  I  C  O. 

New-Mexico  is  fo  called,  becaufe  of  its  being  difcovered 
later  than  Old-Mexico  ;  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  high  moun- 
tains, beyond  which  is  a  country  altogethet  linknou'n  ;  by 
Louifiana  on  the  eaft  ;  by  New-Spain  on  the  fouth  ;  and  on  the 
weft  by  the  gulph  of  California,  and  the  Rio  Colorado  :  extend- 
ing, it  is  faid,  above  one  hundred  miles  from  Ciift  to  weil, 
and  about  nine  hundred  from  fouth  to  north;  but  the  twerxT 
tieth  part  oF  the  country  within  thefe  limits  is  neither  culti- 
vated nor  inhabited,  either  by  Spaniards  or  Indians.  As  it  lies 
in  the  midft  of  the  t'cmpcrate  zone,  the  climate,  in  general,  is 
very  pleafant  ;  the  lummers,  though  very  warm,  are  neither 
fultry  nor  unwholefome  ;  and  the 'winters,  though  pretty  fliarp, 
are  far  from  being  infupportable,  and,  for  the  moll  part,  clear 
and  healthy. 

The  greateft  encomiums  are  laviflied  on  the  fertility  of  the' 
foil,  the  richnefs  of  the  mines,  and  the  variety  of  valuable 
commodities  produced  in  this  country.  It  is  faid  to  be  beauti- 
fully divcrfified  with  fields,  meadows,  rifing  grounds,  and 
rivers;  abounding  with  fruit  and  timber  trees,  tuii^uoifes,  eme- 
ralds, and  other  precious  ftbnesj  mines  of  gold  and  filver,  a 
great  variety  of  wild  and  tame  cattle,  fifh  and  fowls.  Upon 
the  whole,  we  may  fafeiy  affirm,  that  New-Mexico  is  among 
the  pleafanteft,  rfeheft,  and  moft  plentiful  countries  in  Ame- 
rica, or  any  other  part  of  the  world.  There  are  few  great  or 
navigable  ri\H;rs  in  it  :  the  moft  confiderable  are,  the  Rio  Solado, 
and  Rio  del  None,  which,  with  feveral  fmaller  ftreams,  fait 
into  the  gulph  of  Mexico.  On  the  coaft  of  the  gulph  are 
divers  bays,  ports,  and  creeks,  which  might  be  eafily  convert- 
ed into  excellent  harbours,  if  the  Spaniards  u'erc  poffeffed  of 
any  portion  of  th;.t  commercial  fpirit  which  animates  the  other 
joaaritunc  nations  af  Europe. 

P 


136  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION   OF 

The  Spanifh  writers  tell  us,  that  New-Mexico  is  inhabiteti 
by  a  great  vaiiety  of  Indian  nations  or  tribes,  totally  uncon-' 
ncfted  witli  e;ich  oilier-  but  the  principal  are  the  Apaches, 
a  brave,  warlike,  reiblute  people,  fond  of  liberty,  and  the 
inveterate  enemies  oT  tyranny  and  opprcfTion.  About  the 
clofe  of  the  laf£  century,  thinking  themfelves  aggrieved  by  the 
Spanifh  government,  they  made  a  general  infurreftion,  and  did 
a  greaJ  deal  of  mifehief,  but  were  at  laft.  obliged  to  fubmit,  and 
have  fmce  been  curbed  by  flronger  garrilonr.  Moft  of  the 
R^.tives  are  now  Chriflians.  When  the  Spaniards  firfh  entered 
this  country,  they  found  the  natives  well  clothed,  their  lands 
cultivated,  their  villages  neaf,  and  their  houfes  built  with 
ftone.  Their  flock?  alfo  were  numerous,  and  they  lived  more 
comfortably  than  mod  of  the  other  favages  of  America.  Asr 
^o  religion,  they  weie  idol.iters,  and  worfhipped  the  lun  and 
moon  ;  but  whether  (hey  offered  liumiin  iacrilices,  we  are  not 
"  lufficiently   informed. 

As  to  the  number  of  the  provinces  of  this^  country,  we  can 
advance  nothing  certain  ;  foir.e  writers  making  them  only  five,' 
others  fen,  fifteen,  twenty,  and  twenty-five,  but  adding  no 
delcription^  either  of  them,  or  the  towns  contained  in  therri,- 
excepting  the  capital,  Santa  Fe,  whicli  we  are  told  Hands 
itiear  the  foarce  of  the  Rio  del  Norte,  in  30®  nortli  latitude, 
and  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  leagues  from  the  gulph  ;  that 
it  is  a  weli-bailt,  haihdfomcy  rich  town,  and  the  Icat  of  the 
bilhop,  fuffragan  of  fvlcxico,  aS  well  as  the  governor  of  the 
province,  who  is  lubordinate  to  the  viceroy  of  Mexico,  ov 
New- Spain. 

CALIFORNIA. 

California  is  the  mofl:  northerly  of  all  the  Spanllh  dominions 
on  the  continent  of  America,  is  iomctimes  diftinguifhed  by  the 
name  of  NcW-Albjon,  and  the  Iflas  Carabiras ;  but  the  mof^ 
ancient  appellation  is  California,  a  word  probably  owing  to 
foine  accident,  or  to  lorne  words  fpoken  by  the  Indians  and 
milunderllood  b)'  tiie  Spaniai'ds.  For  a  long  time  California 
was  thought  to  be  an  iHand,  but  Father  Caino,  a  German 
Jeluit,  dilcovered  it  to  be  a  peninlula  joining  to  the  coaft  of 
New-Mexico,  and  the  fouthern  parts  of  America.  This 
peniufula  extends  from  Cape  St.  Scbaftian,  lying  in  north  lati- 
tude 43O  30',  to  Cape  St.  Lucar,  which  lies  in  north  latitude 
22°- 32'.  'It  is  divided  from  New-Mexico  by  the  gulph,  or, 
as'iomfe  call'  it,  the  lake  of  California,  or  VermilUoh  lea,  on 
the  eiift  ;  oh  the  north,  by  that  part  of  the  continent  of  North- 


MEXICO,  OR  NEW- SPA  IN.  i©7_ 

America  which  is  leafl:  known  ;  and  on  the  M'eft  and  fouth,  by 
the  Pacific  Ocean  or  great  South  fen.  The  coafts,  efpecially 
towards  the  Vermillion  fea,  nre  covered  with  inhabited  ifl.inds, 
on  fome  of  which  the  Jefuits  have  eftabliflied  lettl^nents,  luch 
as  Sr.  Clement,  Pajcaros,  St.  Anne,  Cedars,  fo  called  from  the 
great  number  of  thefe  trees  it  produces,  St,  JoCeph,  and  a  mul- 
titude of  others.  But  the  iQands  bed  known,  are  three  lying 
oiF  cape  St.  Lucar,  towards  tlie  Mexican  coaft.  Thei'e  are  called 
Les  Tres  Marias,  '*  the  three  Maries."  They  are  but  imali, 
have  good  wood  and  water,  fait  pits,  and  abundance  of  game; 
therefore  the  Engliflt  and  French  pirates  have  fometimes  win- 
tered there,    when  bound  on  cruizes  in  the  South  Sea5. 

As  California  lies  altogether  within  the  temperate  zone,  the 
natives  are  neither  chilled  with  cold  nor  fcorched  with  heat; 
and,  indeed,  the  improvements  in  agriculture  made  by  the  J,e- 
fuits,  afford  flrong  proofs  of  the  excellency  of  the  cliianate.  In 
ibme  places  the  air  is  extremely  hot  and  dry,  and  the  earth  wild, 
rugged,  arwi  barren.  In  a  country  ftretching  about  eight  iiun- 
d'.ed  miles  in  length,  there  niuft  be  a  conliderable  variation  of 
ioil  and  climate  ;  and,  indeed,  we  find,  from  good  authority, 
that  California  produces  fome  of  the  mod  beautiful  lawns,  as 
well  as  many  of  the  mod  inhofpitable  defarts  in  the  univerfe. 
Upon  the  whole,  although  California  is  rather  rough  and  craggy, 
we  are  affured  by  the  Jeiuit  Vinegas,  and  other  good  writers,  that 
with  due  culture,  it  furnifhes  every  necelTary  and  conveniency 
of  life  ;  and  that  even  where  the  atmofphere  is  hotted,  vapours 
rihng  from  the  fea,  and  difperfed  by  plealant  breezes,  render 
it  of  a  moderate  temperature. 

The  peninfuld  of  California  is  now  docked  with  all  forts  af 
domedic  animals  known  in  Spain  and  Mexico.  Horles,  mules, 
alfes,  oxen,  flieep,  hogs,  goats,  and  all  other  quadrupeds  im- 
ported, thrive  and  increafe  in  this  country.  Among  the  native 
animals  is  a  Ipecies  of  deer,  of  the  fize  of  a  young  heifer,  and 
greatly  refembling  it  in  fhape  ;  the  head  is  like  that  of  a  deer, 
and  the  horns  thick  and  crooked  like  thole  of  a  ram.  The  hooJ 
of  the  animal  is  large,  round,  and  cloven,  the  fkin  fpottecl,  but 
the  hair  thinner,  and  the  tail  Iharper  than  tliat  of  a  deer.  Its 
flefh  is  greatly  edeemed.  There  is  anotlier  animal  peculiar  to 
this  country,  larger  and  more  bulky  than  a  {heep,  but  grently 
reiembling  it  in  figure,  and,  like  it,  covered  with  a  fine  black 
or  white  wool.  The  fielh  of  the  animal  is  nourifhing  and 
delicious,  and  happily  for  the  natives,  is  io  abundant,  thai 
rjothihg  more  is  required  than  the  trouble  of  hiintir>|r  a^  ti^etc 
aaiinals  wander  about  in  droves  in  the  foreds  2nd  oil  tla^ji^G;ij(i^- 

P    3 


io8  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION  OF 

tains.  Father  Torquemado  defcribes  a  Creature  which  he  calls  & 
fpecies  of  L^rge  bear,  fomething  like  a  buffalo,  of  the  fize  of  a 
fteer,  and  nearly  of  the  figure  of  a  ft?g  ;  its  hair  is  a  quarter  of 
a  yard  in  leogth,  its  neck  long  and  aukward,  and  on  its  fore- 
head are  horns  branched  like  thole  of  a  Ciag.  Tlie  tail  is  a. yard 
in  length,  and  half  a  yard  in  breadth,  and  the  hoofs  cloven 
like  thoie  of  an  ox.  With  regard  to  birds,  we  have  but  an 
impctfecl:  .iccount  ;  only,  in  general,  Father  Venegas  tells  us, 
th.it  the  coalt  is  plentifully  ftored  with  peacocks,  buftards,  geefc, 
crducs,  and  inoli  of  the  birds  common  in  other  parts  of  the 
Avotld.  The  quantity  of  fifh  which  refort  to  tliefe  coafts  arc 
incredible.  S--lrnon,  turbot,  barbel,  (kate,  mackerel,  &c.  arc 
caught  here  with  very  little  trouble  ;  together  with  pearl  oyf- 
ters,  common  oyfters,  lobllers,  and  a  variety  of  exquifite  fhell 
fifh.  Plenty  of  turtle  are  alio  caught  on  the  coafts.  On  the 
bouth  lea  coalls  are  fome  fheli  filh  peculiar  to  it,  and  perhaps 
the  moll  beautiful  in  the  world;  their  luftre  furpaffing  that  of 
the  fineft  pearl,  and  darting  their  rays  through  a  tranfparent 
Varnifli  of  an  elegant  vivid  blue,  like  the  lapis  lauzuli.  The 
fame  of  California  for  pearls  loon  drew  forth  great  numbers  of 
adventurers,  who  fearched  every  part  of  the  gulph,  and  are 
ftrll  employed  in  that  work,  notwlthftanding  fafhion  has  greatly 
diniinifiicd  the  value  of  this  elegant  natural  produftion.  Father 
Torquemadp  oblerves,-  that  the  fea  of  California  affords  very 
.rich  pearl  fiflieries,  and'  that  the  hoflias,  or  beds  of  oyller.<, 
«ny  be  leen  in  three  or  four  fathoms  water,  alaioft  as  plain  as 
it    they  were  on  the  (urface. 

The  extremity  of  the  penirifula  towards  cape  St.  Lucar  is 
more  level,  temperate,  and  fertile  than  the  other  parts,  and 
cbnicquentiy  more  woody.  In  the  more  diftant  parts,  even 
to  the  fartliiift  miffions  on  the  eaft  coalb,  no  large  timber  ha,^h 
yet  been  dlfcovered.  A  fpecies  of  manna  is  found  in  this 
counxfy,  'wliich,  according  to  the  accounts  of  the  Jeluits,  has 
all  the  Tweet  nif  Is  of  refined  fugar  without  its  whitenels.  The 
natives  firmly  believe  that  the  juice  drops  frcm  heaven. 

The  Californians  are  well  made,  and  very  ftrong  ;  they  aie 
Yxtrcvhely  pufiUaniraous,  inconiiant,  flnpid,  and  even  irdenl:- 
blkC,  and  feem  defcrving  of  the  character  given  to  the  Indians 
in  "general.  Before  the  Europeans  penetrated  into  Caliiornia, 
the  nail v*ts  had  no  forjn  of  religion.  The  iniflionaries, 
indeed,  tdll  us  manv  tales  concerir.nig  -them,  but  they  To. evi- 
dently bear  tnc  marks  of  forgerv,'  a.vnotlabc  worth  repeatirifg. 
Each  nal'iou  was  then  an  aiicmbiiiige.'of . Icveral,  coUaggs.ir.orc 
.>r  Icls'^Minerdus,  thai"  \vt£i=e  4i-iniaUv:3Uy':  iiwufcdQiJ»uy(?4v9y  ii^lii- 


MEXICO.Ofi-HEW^SPAIN..  jog 

gnces,  but  without  any  chief..  They  were  ^ftrangers.even  to 
filial  obedience.  No  kind  of  drefs  was  ufed  b)'  the  menj  but 
the  women  made  ule  uf  fome  covering,  and  \yere  even  fond 
of  ornamenting  themfelves  with  pearls  and  fuch  other  trinkets 
as  the  coiiniry  afford^.  What  moftly  diiplayed;  their  ingenuity 
was  the  conflruftion  of  their  fifhing  nets,  which  are  faid  by  the 
Jefuits  to  have  even  exceeded  irj  goodnefs  thofe  made  in  Europe  ; 
they  were  made  by  the  women,  of  a  coarfe  kind  of  flax  procur- 
ed from  lome  plants  which  grow  there.  Their  houfes  were  built 
of  branches  and  leaves  of  trees  ;  nay,  manv  of  them  were  only 
inclofures  of  earth  and  ftone,  raifed  half  a  yard  high-,  without 
any  covering,  and  even  thefc  were  fo  Imall,  that  they  could  not 
ftretch  themfelves  at  length  in  them.  In  winter  they  dwelt 
under  ground,   in  cave§  either  natural  or  artificial. 

In  1526,  Ferdinand  Cortes  having  reduced  and  fettled 
Mexico,  attempted  the  conquefl  of  California,  but  was 
obliged  to  return,  without  even  taking  a  lurvey  of  the  coun- 
try, a  report  of  his  death  having  difpofed  the  Mexicans  to 
general  infurreftion.  Some  other  attempts  were  made  by  the 
officers  of  Cortes,  but  thefe  were  alfo  unfuccefsful,  and  this 
valuable  coaft  was  long  neglefted  by  the  Spaniards,  who,  to 
this  day,  have  but  one  fettlemcnt  upon  it.  In  1595,  a  galleon 
was  fent  to  make  difcoveries  on  the  CaUforniai^i  fhore,  but 
the  veffel  was  unfortunately  loft.  .  Seven  years,  after,  the 
Count  de  Monteroy,  then  viceroy  of  NewrSpain,  fent 
Sebaftian  Bifcayno  on  the  fame  dehgn  with  two  fhips  and 
a  tender,  but  he  made  no  difcovery  of  importance.  lu 
1684,  the  Marquis  de  Laguna,  alfo  viceroy  of  New-Spain, 
dilpatched  two  fhips  with  a  tender  to  make  difcoveries  on  the 
lake  of  California  ;  he  returned  with  an  indifferent  account, 
but  was  among  the  firft  that  afferted  that  California  was  not 
an  illand,  which  was  afterwards  confirmed  by  Father  Caino,  as 
Already  related.  In  iGg-y,  the  Spaniards  being  difcouraged  by 
their  lolfes  and  difappointments,  the  Jel'uits  folicited  and  obtain- 
ed permilTion  to  undertake  the  conqueft  of  California.  They 
arrived  among  the  lavages  v/ith  curiofities  that  might  amuie  them, 
corn  for  their  food,  and  clothes  for  which  they  could  not  but 
perceive  the  neceflity.  The  hatred  thcle  people  bore  the 
Spanifh  name,  could  not  iupport  itfelf  againft  thefe  demcnftra- 
tions  of  benevolence.  They  teflified  their  acknowledgments  as 
much  as  their  want  of  feafibility  and  their  inconflancy  \vouId 
permit  them.  Thefe  faults  were  partly  overcome  by  the  religious 
inftitutors,  who  puilucd  their  projefl  with  a  degref^.,;^f  .vyarmth  ' 
and    i'efolulion    peculiar    to    the    iucielv.       Thev    made    them- 


tio  GEXERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

(elves  carpenters,  malons,  weavers,  and  hufbandmen  ;  and  bv 
thefe  means  fucceeded  in  imparting  knowledge,  and  in  fome 
rneafure  a  tafte  for  the  ufeful  arts,  to  this  lavage  people,  who 
have  been  all  fuccefTively  formed  into  one  body.  In  1745, 
they  compofed  forty-three  villages,  fepa^  ,ted  from  each  other 
hy  the  barrennefs  of  the  foil  and  the  want  of  water.  The  in- 
habitants of  thefe  fmall  villages  fubfifh  principally  on  corn  and 
pulle,  which  tV^y  cultivate,  and  on  the  fruits  and  domeftic  ani- 
»n-ils  of  -Europe,  the  breeding  of  which  lad  is  an  objcft  of  con^ 
tinu.'.l  attention.  The  Indians  have  each  their  field,  and  the 
property  of  what  they  reap  ;  but  fuch  is  their  want  of  fore- 
fight,  that  they  would  fquander  in  a  day  what  they  had  gathered, 
if  the  ipifTionary  did  not  take  upon  himlelf  to  diftribute  it  to 
them  as  they  flood  in  need  of  it.  They  manufafture  fome  coarle 
Jluffs,  and  the  nccellaries  they  are  in  want  of  arc  purchafed 
M'ith  pearls,  and  with  wine  nearly  rclembling  that  of  Madeira, 
which  thev  fell  to  the  Mexicans  and  to  the  galleons,  and  which 
experience  hath  Ihown  the  neoelTity  of  prohibiting  in  Califor- 
nia. .  A  few  laws,  wliich  are  very  fjmple,  are  fulHcient  to  re- 
gulate this  rifing  fhate.  In  order  to  inforce  them,  the  miflionary 
cho<)feis  the  mod  intelligent  perfon  of  the  village,  who  is  em- 
powered to  whip  and  imprifon,  the  only  punifliments  of  which 
they  have  any  knowledge.  In  all  California,  there  are  only  two 
garrilons,  each  confiding  of  thirty  men,  and  a  loldier  with  every 
niiilionaiy  ;  thefe  troops  were  chofen  by  the  legiflators,  though 
they  are  paid  bv  the  government.  Were  the  court  of  Madrid  to 
pufh  their  intereft  with  half  the  zeal  of  the  Jeiuirs,  California 
might  become  one  of  the  molt  valuable  of  their  acquifilions,  oji 
account  of  the  pearls  and  other  valuable  articles  (jf  commeice 
which  the  country  contains.  At  prelent,  the  little  Spanifh  town 
nc?.\'  cape  Sr.  Lucar,  is  made  ule  of  for  no  other  purpole  than 
as  a  place  of  lefrefliment  for  the  Manilla  fhips,  and  the  head 
rehdence  of  the  miffionaries. 

GOVERNMF.NT,    COMMERCE,  <Sfc. 

The  civil  government  of  all  tliis  vaft  count rv,  included  in 
the  general  name  of  Mexico,  is  adminillcred  by  f  ribun.ils,  called 
audiences,  three  of  which  are  held  in  Old,  and  two  in  NcW- 
Mexico.  In  thefe  courts  (he  viceroy  ol  the  King  of  "SpaiVi 
prchdes  ;  his  employniciil  is  the  gicatefl  tiuft  and  power  his 
Catholic  Majtfiy  lias  at  Ins  dilpofal,  and  ,i,s.  .perhaps  the  richell 
gov,ea;rnnci\t  iniruiled  to  ^uy  fuiijcdi-  in-jtiiC:  :.^<ioiid,,;,j,  ,JJbie  vice^ 
roy  continues  in  oflicc   thee   vms.         •.      •■-,.    •     -         : 


MEXICO,  OR  NEW-SPAIN.  m 

The  clergy  are  exceedingly  numerous  in  Mexico  ;  the  prieft:^, 
monks,  and  nuns,  of  all  orders,  make  a  fifth  part  of  the  white 
inhabitants,   both  here  and  in  other  parts  of  Spanifh  America. 

The  city  of  Mexico  is  the  oldcft  in  America,  of  which  wc 
have  any  account.  The  Abbe  Clavigero,  who  is  our  authority 
for  the  preceding  account  of  this  country,  dates  its  foundatioa* 
as  far  back  as  1325,  It  Is  fituated  in  the  charmiirg  vale  of 
Mexico,  on  feveral  fmall  iflands,  in  lake  Tet^cuco,  in  north 
latitude  ig*'  26',  and  276''  34'  weft  longitude  from  Perro. 
This  vale  is  furrounded  with  lofty  and  verdant  mountains,  and 
formerly  contained  no-lefs  than  forty  eminent  cities,  befides 
villages  and  hamlets.  The  city  is  iubjcft  to  frequent  inunda- 
tions, as  is  eafily  accounted  for  from  its  local  fituationj  the  lake 
in  which  it  ftands  being  the  refervoir  of  the  waters  flowing  from 
the  neighbouring  mountains. 

Concerning  the  ancient  population  of  this  city,  there  are  va- 
rious opinions.  The  hiftorians  mofl  to  be  relied  on  fay,  that 
it  was  nearly  nine  miles  in  circumference,  and  contained  ud- 
wards  of  lixty  thoufand  houfes,  containing  each  from  four  to 
ten  inhabitants.  Some  hiftorians  reckon  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thoufand,  and  iome  one  hundred  and  thirty  thoufand 
houles.  By  a  late  accurate  enumeratiyn,  made  by  the  magiftratcs 
and  prieffcs,  it  appears  that  the  piefent  number  of  inhabitants 
exceeds  two  hundred  thoufand.  We  may  forin  fome  idea  of  its 
populoufnefs  from  the  quantity  of  pulque*  and  tobacco  which 
are  daily  conlumed  in  it,  alcertained  from  the  euftom-houle 
books,  February  23,  1775.  Every  day  upwards  of  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety  thouland  pounds  of  pulque  are  carried  into  the 
city,  which  are  almoft  iolely  confumed  by  the  Indians  and  Mu- 
lattoes,  who  drink  this  beverage.  The  tax  upon  it  amounts 
annually  to  about  two  hundred  and  eighty  thoufand  crowns^ 
The  daily  eoniumption  of  tobacco  is  reckoned  at  one  thoufand 
two  hundred  and  fifty  crowns. 

The  greatell  curiofity  in  the  city  of  Mexico  is  their  floating 
gardens.  When  the  Mexicans,  about  the  year  1325,  vv'ere  fub~ 
dued  by  the  Colhuan  and  Tepanecan  nations^  and  co-nfintd  to 
the  fmall  illands  in  the  lake,  having  no  land  to  cultivate,  thev 
were  taught  by  necellily  to  form  moveable  gardens,  which 
floated  on  the    lake.      Their  conflruftion  is  very  fimplc.      They 


*  Pulque  is  the  tifual  wine  of  beer  of  the  Mexicans,  made  of  the  fermented 
juice  of  the  maguei.  This  liquor  will  not  keep  but  one  day,  and  thiexifori 
what  is  made  is  daily  confumed.  mi  ,.    <  '.  , 


it2  GENERAL  DESCRIPTIO N  OF 

take  ^villows  and  the  roots  of  marfli  plants,  antl  other  materials-' 
which  are  light,  arid  twift   them    together,  and    fo   firmTy  unit^  "f 
tliem  as  to  "fprnt  a  fcf'rt  bf  platforwf,'-  whK;h  "is  capable  of  fupporti>^ 
inV  the   earth  of  the    garden;      Upon  this  foundation    they    lay 
the  lifcht  bufhes  which  float   on    the    lake,   and    overfpread    the 
mud  and'dirt  which  they  draw  up  from  the  bottom  of  the  lak*/^ 
Iheir  i-egiilar  figure  is  quadrangular  •- their   length    and  brecdtW  ' 
variouSj   but  generally  about  eight   rods  long    and    three    wide  ; 
and  their  elevation  from  the  furface   of   the  water  is   lefs  than  a?" 
foot.      Thefc  were  the  firfl  fields  that  the  Mexicans  owned  aftt^*'''' 
the    foundation    of    Mexico;    there    th-ey    firfl:    cultivated    the 
maize,   gre^t  pepper,   and  other  plants    neccilary    for    their  fup- 
port.      From  the  indull;:v  of  the  people  thefc  fields  foon  became 
njumerous.      At  prefent  they  cultivate  flnwers  and  every   fort  of 
garden  herbs  upon  them.      Every    day  of  the   year,    at   fun-rifej ' 
innumerable  vefTels  or  boats,   loaded  with  various  kinds  of  flow- 
ej's  and -herbs  which   are    cultivated   in  thefe   gardens,  are    feen 
arriving  by  the  canal  at  the  great  market  place  of  Mexico.      All 
plants  thrive  in  them  furprifingly  ;   the  mud  of  the  lake    makcS 
a  very  rich  foil,   vvhich  requires  no  water  from   the  clouds.      In 
the  largeft;  gardens  there  is  commonly   a  little  tree,   and  a    little 
hut  to  flielter  the  cultivator,  and  defend  him   from    the   fain  or 
the  fun*     When   the  owner  of  a  garden,  or  the    Chinampa,    as 
he  is  called,   wilhes  to  change  his  fituation,  to  get  out  of  a   bad 
neighbourhood,  or  to  come  nearer  to  his   family,   he    gets    into 
his  little  boat,   and  by  his  own   ftrength    alone,   if  the  garden  is 
finall,   or  with   the  anifl,ance  of  others,    if  it    is    large,   condufts 
it  wherever  he  pleafes,    with    the    little    tree    and    hut  iipon'^ib 
That  part  of  the  ifiand   whers    thefe    floating  gardens  are,  is   "a 
place   of  delightful    recreation,    v/here    the   fenies   receive   the 
hiahefl;  poifible  gratification. 

The  buildings,   which  are  of  ftone,  arc   coriVerileht,  and    trfc 

public  edifices,  efpecially  the  churclies,   are  magnificentj  and  the 

city  has  the  appearance  of  immenfe  wealth.   '  '         ,      '■[','" 

The  trade  of  Mexico  confifl^s  of  three  great  branches^' Which 

;  CKtend  over  the  whole  world.      It  carries  on  a  traffic  with'  Eu- 

-!  rooe,   by  La  Vera  Cruz,   fituated  on  the    gulph    of  Mexico,   on 

rthe  North  fea  ;   with  the  Eaft-Indies,  by  Acapulco  on  the   South 

ieas,   two  hundred  and    ten    miles   fouth-wefl;    of    Mexico;  and 

.  with  South-America,   by  the  fame  port.      Thefe    two   fea   ports, 

'-"Vera  Cruz   and    Acapulco,    are  admirahlv    well   fituated  for  the 

■     ."  ■  ,  . -'  .    .    .     ;     '         .  .-      ■  _     -:;.', rjT:   {'..i^ 

eomtpercial  jpurpoufcs,  to  which,  tjipy    were   applied,   _It^.i.s,by 
means  of  the  former  that   Mexico   pours  her    wealth  over  the 


Me  XICO,  0  R  N£  W.SP  A  IN,  113 

■Whole  world,  and  receives  in  return  the  numberlefs  luxuries  and 
neeeffaries  which  Europe  affords  her.  To  this  port  the  fleet 
from  Cadiz,  called  the  Flota,  confiding  of  thtee  man  of  war,  as 
a  convoy,  and  fourteen  large  merchant  fliips,  annually  arrives 
about  the  beginning  of  November.  Its  cargo  confirts  of  almoftj 
every  commodity  and  manufafture  of  Europe  ;  and  there"  are 
few  nations  but  have  more  concern  in  it  than  the  Spaniards,  who 
fend  out  little  except  wine  and  oil.  The  profit  of  thefe,  with 
the  freight  and  commififion  to  the  merchants,  and  duty  to  the 
king,  is  all  the  advantage  which  Spain  derives  from  the  Ame,ricart 
commerce.  When  all  the  goods  are  landed  and  difpo'ed  of  at 
Ea  Vera  Cruz,  the  fleet  takes  in  the  plate,  precious  ftoncs,  and 
other  commodities  for  Europe.  Some  time  in  M^y  they  are 
ready  to  depart.  From  La  Vera  Cruz  they  lail  to  the  Havannah, 
in  the  ifle  of  Cuba,  which  is  the  rendezvous  where  they  meet 
the  galleons,  another  fleet  which  carries  on  the  trade  of  Terra 
Firma  by  Carthag.ena,  and  of  Peru  by  Panama  and  Porto  Bello, 
When  all  are  colle^ed  and  provided  with  a  convoy  necelTary  for 
their  fafety,  they  fleer  for  Old-Spain. 

Acapulco  is  the  fea  pcxt  by  which  the  communication  is  kept 
up  between  the  different  parts  of  the  Spanifh  empire  in  America^ 
and  the  Eafl-Indies.  About  the  month  of  December,  the  great 
galleon,  attended  by  a  large  fhip  as  a  convoy,  which  make  the 
only  communication  between  the  Philippines  and  Mexico,  annu- 
ally arrive  here.  The  cargoes  of  thefe  fhips  (for  the  convoy^ 
though  in  a  clandefline  manner,  likewife  carries  goods)  conftft 
of  all  the  rich  commodities  and  manufaftures  of  the  eafl.  At 
the  fame  time  the  annual  fhip  from  Lima,  the  capital  of  Peruj 
comes  10,  and  is  computed  to  bring  not  lefs  than  two  millions  of 
pieces  of  eight  in  filver,  befides  quick-filver,  and  other  valuable 
commodities,  to  be  laid  out  in  the  purehaie  of  the  galleons  car- 
gpeS4  Several  other  fhips,  frorfi  different  parts  of  Chili  and 
^eru,^  meet  upon  the  fame  occafion.  A  great  fair,  in  which  the 
commodities  of  ail  parts  of  the  world  ate  bartered  for  one  ano- 
thejr,  la  lis- thirty  days.  The  galleon  then  prepares  for  her  Voy- 
age, loaded  with  filver  and  fuch  European  goods  as  have  been 
Jihought  necefTarvi  The  Spaniards,  thougli  this  trade  be  carried 
if)n  entirely  through  their  hands,  and  in  the  very  heart  of  their 
dominions,  are  comparatively  but  I'mall  gainers  by  it.  For  28 
they  allmv  the  Dutch,  Great-Britain,  and  other  commercial  ftates, 
to  furnifh  the  greater  part  of  the  cargo  of  the  flota,  fo  the  Spa- 
nilh  injiabitants  of  the  Piiilippines,  tainted  with  the  indoltnce 
"which^  ruined  ^th^i'r  ^European    anceflors,    permit    the    Chinefe 


ii^  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

merchants  to  furnifh  the  greater  part  of  the  cargo  of  tfttf 
galle6n.'  Notwithftanding what  has  been  faid  of  Vera  Gruz  arwi 
Acapulco,  the  city  of  Mexico,  the  capital  of  the  empire,  ought 
td  be  confidered  as  the  center  of  commerce  in  this  part  of  the 
Worid  ;  for  Ijere  the  principal  merchants  rcfide,  and  the  greatetl 
partof  tKe  bulinefs  is  negociatcd.  The  Eafl-India  goods  from 
Acapulco,  and  the  European  from  V^era  Cruz,  alio  pais  lluought 
this  city.  "  Hither  all  the  gold  and  filver  come  to  be  coined, 
heie  tTie  king's  fifth  is  depofited,  and  here  are  wrought  all 
thofe  utenfils  and  ornaments  in  plate,  which  are  every  year 
fcnt  into  Europe* 

The  empire  of  Mexico  was  finally  iubdued  by  Cortes,  in 
the  year  1521.  Montezuma  was  at  that  time  emperor  of  Mexi^ 
CO.  In  the  courfe  of  the  war,  he  was  treacberoufty  taken 
by  Cortes,  and  held  as  a  priloner.  During  the  imprifonmcnt 
of  MoritGzumaj  Cortes  and  his  army  had  made  repeated  attacks 
On  his'  fubj'.'fts,  but  without  fuccels.  Cortes  was  now  deter-" 
mined,  as  his  lall  relource,  to  try  what  efFetl  the  interpofition 
of  Montezuma  might  have  to  foothe  or  overawe  his  fubjetb^ 
This  unfortunate  prince,  at  the  mercy  of  the  treacherous  Spani- 
ards, and  reduced  to  the  fad  neceflTity  of  becoming  the  inflru- 
mcht  of  his  o\¥n  diigrace,  and  of  the  flaveiy  of  his  fuhjefts,! 
advanced  to  the  battlements  in  his  royal  robes,  in  all  the  pomp 
in  which  he  ufed  to  appear  on  folcmn  occafions.  At  fight 
of  their  fovereign,  whom  they  had  long  been  ^ccilflomcd  10 
honour,  and  almoft  tp^  revere  as  a  god,  the  weapons  dropped 
frotii  tK^ir'  hai^ds.  Cilery  tongue  was  irlent,  all  bowed  their 
beads,  arid  many  pirollrated  themlelves  on  the  ground.  Mon- 
tezuma addrelled  them  with  every  argument  that  could  mitigate 
their  rage,  or  perfuade  them  from  hoUilities.  When  he  ended 
his  diicourl'e,  "a  fuJlen  murmur  of  difapprobation  ran  through 
the  crowd  ;  to  this  fucceeded  reproaches  and  threats  ;  and  their 
fury  fifing  in  a  moment,  they  violently  poured  in  whole  flights 
of  aifoM's  and  vottiea  of  flones  upon  their  unhappy  monarch, 
two  of  the  arrows  ilruck  him  in  hib  body,  which*  with  the  blow 
of  a  Hone  on  his  temple,  put  an  end  to  his  life,  Gujftirnoxin 
luct^dcd  Montezuma,  and  maintained  a  vigorous  oppofitiont 
againft  the  aifa-jlts  of  Cortes  ;  but  he,  like  his  predeceffor5''%#f(^t'  ^"* 
a  noble  Uefcnce,  was  forced  to  lubmit,  and  his  capital  was  Wrtlf-''^" 
ed  from  him  by  Cartes  and  his  followers. 

The    exultation    sf    the     Spaniards,    on    accompli^ing     th^  . 
arduous  enteiprile,   was  at   fixft  exceflive.     But  this  was  quickly    wjn, 
damped". b)^.|;JjiS   ctucl  dilappointment   of  thole    languine  hope^jtr^o? 


ME  X  ICO,  OR  NE  W-  SPA  IN".  1 15 

which  had  animated  Uiem  amjdft  fo  many  hardfliips  and  dangers. 
inftead  of  inexhauftible  wealth  which  they  expefted  from 
becoming  mafters  of  Montezuma's  treafures,  and  the  ornatnept^ 
of  fo  many  temples,  their  rapacioufnefs  could  colteft  only  an 
inconfiderable  booty  amidfh  ruins  and  delblation.*  Guatimozin, 
aware  of  his  impending  fate,  had  ordered  what  remained  of  the- 
riches  araafed  by  his  anceftors  to  be  thrown  into  the  lake.  The 
Indian  auxiliaries,  while  the  Spaniards  were  engaged  in  conflift 
with  the  enemy,  had  carried  off  the  moft  valuable  part  of  the 
fpoil.  The  fum  to  be  divided  among  the  conquerors  was  fo 
fijiall,  that  many  of  them  difdained  to  accept  of 'the  pittance 
which  fell  to  their  fhare,  and  all  murmured  and  exclaimed  ; 
fome  againft  Cortes  and  his  confidents,  whom  liiey  fufpcfted 
of  having  fecretly  appropriated  to  their  own  ufe  a  large  portion 
of  the  riches  which  would  have  been  brought  into  the  common 
fk>ck ;  others  againft  Guatimozin,  whom  they  accufed  of  obfti- 
nacy,  in  refufjng  to  difcover  the  place  where  he  had  hidden 
his  treafure. 

Arguments,  intreaties,  and  promifes,  were  employed  .  in 
order  to  foothe  them,  but  with  fo  little  efTeft,  that  Cortes, 
from  folicitude  to  check  the  growing  fpirit  of  dilcontent,  gave 
way  to  a  deed  which  flained  the  glory  of  all  his  great  aftions. 
Without  regarding  the  former  dignity  of  Guatimozin,  or  feeling 
any  reverence  for  thofe  virtues  which  he  had  difplayed,  he 
fubjefted  the  uahappy  monarch,  together  with  his  chief  favour- 
ite, to  torture,  in  order  to  force  from  them  a  difcovery  of  .the 
royal  treafures,  which  it  was  fuppofed  they  had  concealed. 
Guatimozin  bore  whatever  the  refined  cruelty  of  his  tormentors 
could  inflift,  with  the  invincible  fortitude  of  an  American 
warrior.  His  fellow-fufferer,  overcome  by  the  violence  of  the 
anguifh,  turned  a  dejefted  eye  towards  his  mafter,  which  feem- 
ed  to  implore  his  permiffion  to  reveal  all  he  knew.  But  the 
high-fpirited  prince,  darting  on  him  a  look  of  authority  min- 
gled with  fcorn,  checked  his  weaknefs,  by  afk-ing,  "  Am  I  now 
repofing  on  a  bed  of  flowers  ?"  Overawed  by  the  reproach, 
he  perlevered  in  his  dutiful  filence,  and  expired.  Corte>, 
afhamed  of  a  fcene  fo  horrid,  relcued  the  royal  vi£li;n  from 
the  hands  of  his  torturers,  and  prolonged  a  life  relcrved  foi- 
new  indignities  and  fuffcrinffs. 

*  Tlie  goltf  and  filver,  according  to  C<wt«i^  itoo^ntM-iStffy  fa'  one  hundred 
and  twenty  thou'fand  pefos,  a  fum  far  inferior  to  that  which  the  Spaniiuds  bad 
(ofmerly  divided  in  Mexico. 

Q2 


n6  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

The  fate  of  the  capital,  as  both  parties  had  forefeen,  decided 
that  of  the  empire.  The  provinces  fubmitted  one  after  another 
to  the  conquerors..  Small  detachmonts  of  Spaniards  march- 
ing through  thern  without  interruption,  penetrated,  in  different 
quarters,  to  the  great  South  ocean,  which,  according  to  the  idea^ 
of  Columbus,  they  imagined  would  open  a  fhort,  as  well  as  an 
eafy  paffrge  to  the  Eaft- Indies,  and  fecurc  to  the  crown  of 
Caftile  all  the  envied  wealth  of  thofe  fertile  regions;  and  the 
aftive  mind  of  Cortes  began  already  to  form  fchcmes  for  attempt- 
ing this  important  dilcovery.  In  his  after  fchemes,  however, 
he  was  diTappointed,  but  ^^exico  hath  ever  fmce  remained  in  th« 
hands  of  the  Spaniards, 


(  «'7  ) 


VIEW    OF 


S  OUT  H-AM  ERICA, 


w\ 


E  now  enter  upon  the  dcfcription  of  that  part  of  the 
globe,  where  the  human  mind  will  be  fucceflively  furprifed 
with  the  fublime  and  allonifhing  works  of  Nature  ;  where 
rivers  of  amazing  breadth  flow  through  beautiful  and  widely- 
extended  plains,  and  where  lofty  mountains,  whofe  fummits 
are  covered  with  eternal  fnow,  intercept  the  courfe  of  the 
clouds,  and  hide  their  heads  from  the  view  of  mortals.  In 
fome  parts  of  this  extenfive  region,  nature  hath  bountifully 
beftowed  her  treafures,  and  given  every  thing  neccflary  for  the 
convenience  and  happinefs  of  man.  We  have  only  to  regret, 
that  a  fet  of  avaricious  men  have  fuccefuvely  drenched  with 
innocent  blood  thefe  plains,  which  are  fo  beautifully  formed 
and  enriched  by  the  hand  of  Nature  ;  and  that  the  rod  of 
SPANISH  DESPOTISM  has  prevented  the  population  of  a  coun- 
try which  might  have  fupported  millions  of  beings  in  afflu- 
ence, 

DIVISIONS. 

South-America,  like  Africa,  is  an  extenfive  peninfula, 
ponnefted  with  North-America,  by  the  ifthmus  of  Darien 
and  divided  between  Spain,  Portugal,  France,  Holland, 
and  th«  Aborigines,  as  follows: 

{Terra  Firma, 
cht' 
Paraguay. 
Portuguese,       .       .       .       Brazil, 
French,        .       .       .       .       Cayenne, 
Dutch,     .     ,       ,       ,       .        Surinam, 

A  r  Amazonia, 

Aborigines,  -in.         ■ 

'  |_  Patagonia, 

Qf  thefe  countries  vye  fhall  treat  in  their  order. 


C     "8     ) 


SPANISH    DOMINIONS 


S  O  U  T  H  -  A  M  E  R  I  C  A. 


TERRA  FIRM  A,  or  CASTILE  DEI,  ORO. 


X  ERRA  FIRMA  is  fituated  between  60^  and  82*^  weft  lon- 
gitude, and  the  equator  and  I'i  degrees  north  latitude;  its 
length  is  one  thouland  four  hundred  miles,  and  its  breadth  feven 
hundred  ;  it  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Atl,(ntic  ocean, 
(called  there  the  North  Tea  ;)  on  the  eaft  by  the  Atlantic  ocean 
«nd  Surinam  ;  on  the  fouth  by  Arriazonia  and  Peru  ;  and  on  the 
weft  by  the  Pacific  ocean.  It  is  divided  into  two  grand  divi- 
fions,  North  and  South  ;  thefe  are  again  fubdivided  into 
provinces. 

The  northern  divifion  containing,  i.  Darien,  or  Terra 
FiRMA  Proper:'  2.  Carthagena  :  5.  St.  Martha  :  4.  Vene- 
zeula;  5.  Coman'A  :     6.  Paria,  or  New-Andalusia. 

Th^ifoiuth^rn.divillon  containing,    1.  New-Granada  ;  2,  Po- 

DARIEN,  or  TERRA  FIRMA  PROPER. 

Daiien  is  the  narrow  ifthmus,  or  neck  of  land,  that,  properly 
fpeaking,  joins  North  and  South- America, together,  but  is  gene- 
viiUy  reckoned  as  part  of  the  latter.      It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  North  Tea,  on  the  fouth  by  the  South  fea,  on  the  eaft  by 
the  gulph  or  river  of  Darien,  and  on  the  weft  by  another  part      ' 
of  the  South  fea  and  the  province  of  Veragua.     It   lies   in   the    '^ 
form  of  a  bow,  or  crefcent,  about  the   great    bay  of  Panama' ifl^  "^' ' 
the  South   Tea,  and  is  three  hundred  miles  in  length  apd  fixty  Jfi'  '' "■ 
breadth.     This  province  is  not  the  richeft,  but  is  of  the  greatcft 
impGrtance  to   Spain,  and  has   been    the   fcene  of  more  aftions*' -'^<i 
than  any  other  in   America.     The   wealth   of  Peru    is    brought  ''■"-'^ 
hither,  and 'frpin  "^hence  exported  to  Europe.     This  has  rnduccd"'^'" 
many   entcrprinng  people  to  make  attempts  on  Panama,  Porto-''^^'^ 
BcUo,  and  other  towns  of  this  province,   in- hopes  of  obtaiTiin^  '-'*'^ 


TERRA  FIRM  A,  '^R  CASTILE  DEL   ORO,         ug 

The  Scotch  got   poffefTion  of  part  of  this   province    in    1699, 
and   attempted  to    form  an   eflablifliment,    which    would   have 
proved  one  of  the  moft  ufeful  and  impcrlant  that  ever   was  pro- 
jeded.      Of  the    rife,    progrefs    and    cataftrophe,    of    this    well- 
imagined,   but   ill-fated,  undertaking,     Sir    John    Dalrymple,    in 
the  lecond  volume  of  his  Memoirs  of  Great-Britain   and  Ireland, 
has    given    a  very  interefling  account,    authenticated   in    every 
particular    by    unqueflionable    documents.      The    projeftor    and 
leader  of  the  Darien  expedition  was  a  clergyman  of  the  name  of 
Paterfon;  who  having  a  violent  propenfuy    to   lee   foreign  coun- 
tries, he  made  hi»  profeffion  the  inftrument  of  indulging  it,   by 
going  to  the  new   weflern  world,  under  pretence  of  convex  ting 
the  Indians  to  the  religion  of  the  old.     In  his  courfes  there,    he 
became  acquainted  with   Capt.   Dampicr  and    IVJr.  Wafer,   who 
afterwards  publifhed,  the  one   his   Voyages  and   the  other   his 
Travels,  in  the, region  where   the    leparation    is    narrowefl  be- 
tween the  Atlantic  and  the  South  feas  ;  and  both  of  whom,   par- 
ticularly the   firft,  appear  by    their  books  to   have  been   men  of -^ 
confiderable  obfervation.     But    he   got    much   more  knowledge 
from  men  who  could  neither  write  nor  read,  by  cultivating  the 
acquaintance  of  fome  of  the  old  Buccaneers,  who,   after   furviv- 
ing  their  glories  and  their  crimes,  Hill,  in  the   extremity  of  age 
and  misfortune,   recounted  with  tranfport  the  eafe  with  which 
they  had  paifed  and  repalfcd  from  the  one  fea  to  the  other,  fome- 
times  in  hundreds  together,  and  driving  firings  of  mules   before 
therri  loaded  with  the  plunder  of  friends  and  of  foes.     Paterfbn,"  ^ 
having  examined  the  places,   fatisfied  himfelf,  that  on  the  illhmus 
of  Darien  there  was  at  raft  of  country  running  acrofs  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  South  fea,  which   the  Spaniards   had    never  pof- 
feffed,  and  inhabited  by  a  people  continually  at  war  with  them  ; 
thatalong  the  coaft,  on  the   Atlantic  fide,  there  lay    a    firing  of 
iflands   called    the    Sambaloes,   uninhabited,   and   full    of  natural 
ftrength  and  forcfts,   from  which  laft  circumflance   one  of  them 
was  called  the. i/Za^ii  of  tIie'PiWis'}'^h\it'i}ic  feas  there  were  filled 
with  turtle,  _and  the  manatee' or  fea-cow;  that  mid- way  between 
Porto  Bell o- arid   Carthagcna,    but  near  fifty   leagues  diflant  from 
eithqfj  ^e:9i^bee  dajLIed  Afta;  in  rH6'  mouth  of  the  river  of  Da- 
rien,' there    was    a  natural    harbour,    capable    of  receiving   the 
greatcft  fleets,  and  defended  from  ftorms  by  other  iflands  which 
covered   the    mouth   of  it,   and  from    enemies  by  a  promontory 
which  commanded  the  pafTage,  and  hidden  rocks  '\ik  the  parage 
itlelf;.tl^  cm: the  other  fide' c^f  the  ifthmus^   ap,4,in:.'the  fame 
trad  of -eottiitry,  there  were  natural  harbours,  equally  capa«i«us  ■ 


izo  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION    OP 

and  well  defended  ;  that  the  two  Teas  were  connefted  by  a  ri(^gc 
of  hiJIs,  which,  by  their  height,  created  a  temperate  climate  in 
the  mid  ft  of  the  mofl  fultry  latitudes,  and  were  fheltered  by  fo- 
refts,  not  yet  rendered  damp  by  them,  becaufe  the  trees  grew  at 
a  diftance  from  each  other,  having  very  little  underwood  ;  that, 
contrary  to  the  barren  nature  of  hilly  countries,  the  foil  was  of  a' 
black  mould  two  or  three  feet  deep,  and  producing  fpontane- 
ouHy  the  fine  tropical  ffmts  and  plants,  and  roots  and  herbs  ; 
(hat  roads  could  be  made  with  eafe  along  the  ridge,  by  which 
mules,  and  even  carriages,  might  pafs  from  one  fea  to  the  other 
in  the  fpace  of  a  day  ;  and  confequently  this  paffage  fecmcd  to^ 
he  pointed  out  by  the  finger  of  Nature,  as  a  common  center,  to 
conneft  together  the  trade  and  intercourfe  of  the  univerfe. 

Paterfon  knew  that  fhips  which  ftretch  in  a  flraight  line  from 
t>ne  point  to  another,  and  with  one  wind,  run  lefs  rifks,  and 
lN?c[uire  fewer  hands,  than  fliips  which  pafs  through  many 
iatitudes,  turn  with  many  coafts,  and  require  many  winds ; 
in  evidence  of  which,  veflels  of  feven  or  eight  hundred  tonS 
burthen  are  often  to  be  found  in  the  South  feas,  navigated 
by  no  more  than  eight  or  ten  hands,  becaufe  thefe  haiids  have 
little  elfe  to  do  than  fet  their  fails  when  they  begin  their  voyage, 
srnd  to  take  them  in  when  they  end  it  ;  that  as  foon  as  fliips  from' 
Britain  got  fo  far  fouth  as  to  reach  the  trade  wind,  which  never 
Varies,  that  wind  would  carry  them  to  Daricn,  and  the  fame 
■wind  wo'ufd  rarry  Ihips  from  the  bay  of  Panama,  on  the  oppofite 
'•^^de  of  the  illhmus,  to  the  Eafl-Indies ;  that  as  foon  as  fhips 
coming  f^om  the  Eaft-Indies  to  the  bay  of  Panama  got  ^o  far 
ftaith  as  the  latitirde  of  forty  degrees,  to  reach  the  wefleily 
winds,  whic;h,  about  that  latitude,  blow  alRToft  as  regularly  from 
the  weft  as  the  trade  winds  do  from  the  caft,  thefe  winds  would 
carry  them,  in  the  track  of  the  Spanifli  Acapulco  Pnipsj  to  the 
coaft  of  Mexico;  from  whence  the  land  wind,  which  blows  for 
ever  from  the  novth  to  the  fouth,  would  eariy  them  along  the 
eoaft  of  MeNico  into  the  brvy  of  Panama,  So  that  in  going  from 
i^rirain,  Tuips  would  encounter  no  uncertain  wihdi,  fexcept 
during  their  paffage  foulh  into  the  latitude  of  the  trade  w'iiid  : 
■  in'roming.  from  India  to  the  bay  of  Panama,  no  uncertain  winds, 
-■except  ill  their  pafltge  north  to  the  latitude  of  the  weftcrly 
''Winds  ;  -and  in  <J,oiny:  from  the  other  fide  of  the  ifthmus  to  the 
-"';>eoit,'-n.o,uncej'tain  wind  whavfoever,— ^Gold  was  fcen  by  Paterfon 
in  lome  places  of  the  illhmus,  and  hence  an  ifland  on  the  At- 
lantic fide   ^^-as  called  the  Golden  Ifland,  and  a   river  oh  the  fide 


TERRA  Fimj^  OR  C'ASTIJLE  DEL  ORO.  xzi 

fo,t-]ie  South  fca  was  called  the  Golden  river;  but  thefe  were 
obiefts  which  he  regarded  not  at  that  time,  bocauie.  Jar  greater 
"lv-^efe^^rhis^"^^Y^-^'tT:ie  iemoVi\i^  of-  diftai^ceSj: the  drawing  na- 
tions.nearer  to  each' othefj'  the'breTc-rvatiori  of'the  Valuabk  lives 
of  feamen,  and  the  faVing  in  freight,  (o  important  to  rnwehants^ 
and  in  time  fo  important  to  them,  'a nd-ta'^ri-' animal  whofe  li/qc 
is  of ,  fo  fliort  duratidrt  as   that  of  man.      "*•■■':■  ..,. 

By  this  olifcure  Scotchman,  a  projcft  was  formed  to  fettle,  on 
this  neglcfted  fpot,  a  great  and  powerlul  co-oiiy  :  not  as  other 
colonies  have  for  the  mofl  part  been  fettled,  by  chance,  and 
unprote6led  bv  the  country  from  xvhencc  they  Vv'ent  ;  but  by 
lyflem,  upon  forelight,  and  to  receive  the  ample  prote&ion  of 
thofe  governrhents  to  whom  he  was  to  offer  his  proje£l:  and 
certainly  no  greater  idea  has  been  formed  lin  e  the  time  of 
Columbus. 

Paterfon's  original  intention  was  to  offer  his  projccl  to  Eng- 
land, as  the  country  which  had  molt  interePc  in  if,  not  only 
from  the  benefit  common  to  all  nations,  of  fhortcning  the  lengtli 
of  voyages  to  the  Eafh-Indies,  but  bv  the  effc£l  which  it  would 
have  had  to  conneft  the  interefts  of  her  European,  Wcft-Indiarij 
American,  African  and  Eaft-Indian  trade.  But  Paterfon  hav- 
ing few  acquaintance,  and  no  proteftion  in  London,  thought 
of  drawing  the  public  eye  upon  him,  and  ingratiating  himlclf 
with  monied  men  and  with  great  men,  by  affifting  them  lo  model 
a  projeft,  which  was  at  that  time  in  embryo,  for  ercfting  the 
Bank  of  England,  But  that  happened  to  him  ^vhich  has  hap- 
pened to  many  in  his  fituation  ;  the  perfons  to  whom  he  applied 
itia^e  ufe  of  his  ideas,  took  the  honour  of  them  to  themfelvcs, 
.were  civil  to  him  for  a  while,  and  neglefted  him  afterwards. 
.  He  therefore  communicated  his  projeft  of  a  colony  only  to  a 
few   perfons  in  London,   and   thefe   few    difcoaraged   him* 

He  .ijiext  iriadd  offer  of  his  projeft  to  the  Dutch,  the  Ham- 
burghers,  and  the  eleftor  of  Brandenburgh  ;  becaufe,  by  means 
of  the  paffage  of  the  Rhine  and  Elbe  through  their  ftates,  he 
J  .th caught, I  that  the  great  additional  qualities  of  Eaft-Indian  and 
.  ^^j;^ericai)  gopds,  which  his  colony  would  bring  into  Europe, 
.,|.t{^puld  be  diitributed  through  German}'.  The  Dutch  and  Ham- 
/iW^f^^  mprchant,s,  who  had  mofl  inteicft  in  the  fubjcft  of  liis 
.,  [yi/a|,^heai^d,;-fi'"?.' w^tb.  indifference:  the  eicftor,  who  bad  verv 
,,;|jtjt^'Q^^interefl    in    it,   received    him    with    honour  and    kindnefs. 

.  ,3  lit,  court,   arts    and  Yalle  '  irfeboi^ts  Yoft 'hynn! '  even'  that ;  prince's 
'--     -IJ    no  .boKlir  nn  o:}ij,ji    bns  ,,-.um.L^ 

'Ort  5ni  tuj  Tjvii  fi  fens  ^bmul  nabfoO  ... 


122  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  OF 

PUciTon,  on  his  leturn  to  London,  foimed  a  friendfliio 
with  Mr.  Fletcher  of  Sulton,  whole  mind  was  inflamed  with 
the  hive  of  public  good,  and  all  of  wliofe  ideas  to  procure  it 
had  a  fubiimity  in  them.  .Fletcher  brought  Paterfon  down  to 
Scotland  with  him,  prefented  him  to  the  Marquis  of  Twecdale, 
then  minifter  for  Scotland;  and  then,  with  that  power  wiiich 
a  veheiRent  fpirit  always  poirdfes  over  a  difTident  one,  perfuud- 
cd  the  M-irquis  by  arguments  of  public  good,  and  the  honour 
wiiich  would  redannd  to  his  adminiftration,  to  adopt  the  pro- 
ject. Lord  Stair  and  Mr.  Johnftoii,  the  two  fecrctaries  of 
flate,,  patronifcii  thole  ahdiiics  in  Paterfon  which  they  pofTeded 
!n  themlclves ;  and  the  lord  advocate,  Sir  James  Stuart,  tlie 
fcmie  man  who  had  adjuftcd  the  prince  of  Orange's  declaration 
?t  the  revolution,  whole  fv)n  was  mariied  to  a  niece  of  Loid 
Stair,  went,  naturally  along  with  his  connexions.  Thcief 
jjcrlons,  in  June  1695,  procured  a  ftatutc  from  parliament, 
and  afterwards  a  chatter  from  the  crown  in  term;  of  it,  for 
creating  a  trading  company  to  Africa  and  the  new  woild, 
with  power  to  plant  colonies  and  build  forts,  with  confent  of 
tiie  inhabitants,  in  places  not  polieircd  by  other  Europenil 
nations. 

Patciion,  now  finding  the  ground  hrm  under  him,  and  that 
he  was  iupported  by  almofl  all  the  power  and  talents  of  his 
country,  the  character  of  Fletcher,  and  the  fan£lion  of  an  aft 
of  parliament  and  royal  charter,  threw  his  projcft  boldly  upon 
the  public,  and  opened  a  lublcription  for  a  company.  The 
frenzy  of  the  Scotch  nation  to  lig.n  the  folemn  league  and 
Covenant,  never  exceeded  the  rapidity  with  which  they  ran  to 
fubicribe  to  the  Darien  company.  The  nobility,  the  gentry,  the 
merchants,  the  people,  the  royal  burghs  without  the  exception 
of  one,  and  mod  or  the  other  public  bodies,  iubcribed. 
Young  women  threw  their  little  fortunes  into  the  Itock  ; 
widows  iold  their  jointures  to  get  the  command  of  money  for 
the  fame  purpole.  Alinoft  in  an  inftant  four  hundred  thouland 
pounds  were  fubfcribed  in  Scotland,  although  it  be  now  known, 
that  there  was  not  at  tliat  time  above  eight  hundred  thouland 
pounds  of  cafh  in  the  kingdom-.  The  famous  Mr.  Law,  then  ar 
youth,  afterwards  confcfTed,  tliat  the  facility  with  which  he 
faw  the  paihoa  of  fpeculation  communicate  itlclf  from  all  to  all, 
fatibfied  him  of  the  poflibility  of  producing  the  iarne  effcft 
from  the  faip.e  caule,  but  uoon  a  larger  fcalc,  when  the  Duke 
of  Orlcany,  in  the  year  of  the  MifiifTippi,  engaged  him  againfh 
his  will  to  turn  his  bank  into  a  bubble.  Paterfon's  projeft, 
which  had  been  received  by  ftrangers  with   fears  when  opened 


TERRA  FI.RMA,  OR  CASTILE  DEL  0  RO.      123 

£0  them  in  private,  filled  them  with  hopes  when  it  came  to 
them  upon  the  wings  of  public  fame  :  for  Col.  ErlTvine,  fon  to 
Lord  Cardrofs,  and  Mr.  Haldane,  of  Gleneagles,  the  one  a 
generous  branch  of  a  generous  ftem,  and  the  other  a  country 
gentlemen  of  fortune  and  charafter,  having  been  deputed  to 
receive  fubfcriptions  in  England  and  on  the  continent,  the 
Engiifli  fubfcribed  three  hundred  thouland  pounds,  and  the 
Dutch  and  Hamburghers  two  hundred  thouland  pounds  more. 

Ill  the  mean  time  the  j^aloufj'  of  trade,  which  has  done 
more  mifchief  to  the  trade  of  England  than  all  other  caules 
put  together,  created  an  alarm  in  England  ;  and  tlie  Hoides  of 
Lords  and  Commons,  without  previous  inquiry  and  reflection, 
on  the  13th  of  December,  1695,  concurred  in  a  joint  addreis 
to  the  king  againft  the  eftablifhment  of  the  Darien  company, 
jis  detrimental  to  the  intereft  of  the  Eaft-lndia  company. 
Soon  after,  the  Commons  impeached  fome  of  their  own  coun- 
trymen for  being  inftrumental  in  erefting  the  company  ;  and 
»\(q  fome  of  the  Scotch  nation,  one  of  whom  was  a  peer. 
Lord  Bclhaven  ;  that  is  to  fay,  they  arraigned  the  fubjefts  of 
another  country,  f^r  making  ule  of  the  laws  of  their  own. 
Among  fix  hundred  legiflators,  not  one  had  the  happy  ray  of 
genius  to  propofe  a  committee  of  both  parliaments,  to  inquire 
into  the  principles  and  confequences  of  the  elUbliflimcnt  ; 
and  if  thefe  fhould,  upon  inquiry,  be  found,  that  the  benefit 
of  it  fliould  be  corDmunicated,  by  a  participation  of  rights  to 
both  nations.  The  king's  anfwcr  was,  "  That  he  had  been 
ill-advifed  in  Scotland."  He  foon  after  changed  his  Scottifli 
miniflers,  and  fent  orders  to  his  refident  at  liamburgh  to  pre- 
fent  a  memorial  to  the  Icnate,  in  whichhediiownedthe.com- 
pany,  and  warned  them  againft  all  connections  with  it.  Iher 
fenate  fent  the  memorial  to  the  affembly  of  merchants,  who 
returned  it  with  the  following  fpirited  anfwer  :  "  We  look 
upon  it  as  a  very  ftrange  thing,  that  the  King  of  Britain  fliould 
ofl'er  to  hinder  us,  who  are  a  free  people,  to  trade  with  whom 
we  picafe  ;  but  are  amazed  to  think,  that  he  would  hinder  us 
from  joining  with  his  ov.'ii  fubjefts  in  Scotland,  to  whom  he 
had  lately  given  fuch  large  privileges,  by  fo  iolemn  an  aft  or 
parliament.''  But  merchants,  though  mighty  prone  to  pallion, 
are  eafily  intimidated.  The  Dutch,  Plamburgh,  and  Loudon 
merchants,   withdrew  their  fubfcriptions. 

The  Scotch,  not  difcouraged,  were  rather  animated  by  this 
opprefiion  ;  for  they  converted  it  into  a  proof  of  the  envy  of 
|;he  Englifhj  and  of  their  confciouliieis  of  the  great  advantages  , 

R  2 


t24  GENERAL   D  ESC  R  I PT 10  N  OF 

which  were  to  flow  to  Scotland  from  the  colony.  The  comr 
pany  proceeded  to  build  iix  (hips  in  Holland,  from  thirty-fix 
to  fixty  gnn5.  and  they  engaged  twelve  hundred  men  for  the 
colony  ;  among  whom  were  younger  fons  of  many  of  the  noble 
anil  mod  ancient  families  of  Scotland,  and  fixty  officers  who 
had  been  G,rD!,ued  at  the  peace,  who  carried  with  them  fuch 
of  their  private  -ncn  generally  railed  on  their  own,  or  the 
efutes  of  their  relacioiis.  as  they  knew  to  be  faithful  and  brave; 
and  molt  ot  ihole  were  Highlanders,  The  Scotch  parliament, 
on  the  5th  of  Augull,  1698,  unanimoufly  addrefTed  the  king 
to  iupp.at  tile  company.  The  lord  prefident,  Sir  Hugh  Dal- 
rynsplc,  brother  to  Lord  Stair,  and  head  of  the  bench,  and  the 
lord  advocate,  Sir  James  Stuart,  head  of  the  bar,  jointly  drew 
memorials  to  the  king,  abie  in  point  of  argument,  information 
and  arrangement  :  in  which  they  defended  the  rights  of  the 
company  upon  the  principles  of  conftitutional  and  of  public 
law.  And  neighbouring  nations,  with  a  mixture  of  furprife 
and  refpeLC,  law  the  poorell  kingdom  of  Europe  fending  forth 
the  moll  gallant  and  the  mod  numerous  colony  that  had  ever 
gone  from  the  old  to  the  new  wbrld. 

On  the  26th  of  July,  of  the  year  16^8,  the  whole  city  of 
Edinburgh  poured  down  upon  Leith  to  lee  the  colony  depart, 
amidll  the  tears,  and  prayers  and  prailes  of  relations  and 
friends,  and  of  their  countrymen.  Many  feamen  a;id  foldiers, 
Nvhofe  lervices  had  been  refufed,  becaufe  more  had  offered  them- 
felves  than  were  needed,  v>^ere  found  hid  in  the  fhips,  and 
\vhcn  ordered  afhore,  clung  to  the  ropes  and  timbers,  implor- 
ing to  go  without  reward  with  their  companions.  Twelve 
hundred  men  failed  in  five  flout  fhips,  and  ajrived  at  Darien  in 
two  months,  with  the  lofs  of  only  fifteen  of  their  people.  At 
th<H  time  it  was  in  their  pov^'cr^  mofl  of  whom  were  well  bbriij 
and  all  of  them  haidily  bred,  and  inured  to  the  fatigues  and 
dangers  of  the  late  war,  -to  have  gone  from  the  northmoft 
p.!'.  t  of  Mexico  to  the  fouthmofl  of  Chili,  and  to  have  ovcr- 
(uined  the  whole  empire  of  Spain  in  the  South  fcas :  but 
iTioceft,  refpcftirig  their  p\yn  and  their  country's  cbarafter,  and 
afraid  of  being  accuied  that  they  had  plunder,  nnd  not  a  fet- 
licmcnt,  in  view,  they  began  with  pvuchaiing  lands  from  the 
■•rjiives,  and  lending  mclhiges  of  amity  to  the  Spani fn  governors 
wuhin  their  reach  :  and  then  fixed  their  llation  at  AfVa,  calling 
,t  New  St.  Andrew,  from  the  name  of  the  tutelar  faint  of 
Scotland,  and  the  country  itfelf  New-Caledonia,  One  of  the 
ri<!es  of  the  harbour  being  form.ed  by  a  long  narrow  neck  of 
!  ?id   which  ran  into  the  fea,  ihey  cut  it  acrofs  fo  as  to  join  the 


TEHRA  FIRM  A,  OR  CASTILE  DEL  ORO.        125 

ocean  and  the  harbour.  Within  this  defence  they  erefted  their 
fort,  planting  upon  it  fifty  pieces  of  cannon.  "  On  the  other 
fide  of  the  harbour  there  was  a  mountain  a  mile  high,  on  which 
they  placed  a  watch-houfe,  which,  in  the  rarefied  air  within  the 
tropics,  fo  favourable  for  virion,  gave  them  an  inimenfe  range 
of  prolpeft  to  prevent  all  furprife.  To  this  place,  it  was  ob- 
ferved  that  the  Highlanders  often  repaired,  to  enjoy  a  cool  air, 
and  to  talk  of  their  friends  they  had  left  behind  in  their  hills  ; 
friends  whofe  minds  were  as  high  as  their  mountains.  The  firft 
public  aft  of  the  colony  was  to  publifh  a  declaration  of  freedom 
of  trade  and  religion  to  all  nations.  This  luminous  idea 
originated  with  Paterfon. 

But  the  Dutch  Eaft- India  company  having  prelTed  the  king, 
in  concurrence  with  his  Eruglifh  fubjefts,  to  prevent  the  fet- 
tlement  at  Darien,  orders  had  been  fent  from  England  to  the 
governors  of  the  Weft-Indian  and  American  colonies,  to  iffue 
proclamations  againft  giving  affiftance,  or  even  to  hold  corref- 
pondence  with  the  colony,  and  thefe  were  more  or  lels  harfhly 
expreffed,  according  to  the  tempers  of  the  different  governors. 
The  Scotch,  trufting  to  far  different  treatment,  and  to  the 
fupplies  which  they  expefted  from  thofe  colonies,  had  not 
brought  provifions  enough  with  them,  they  fell  into  difeafes 
from  bad  food  and  from  want  of  food.  But  the  more  generous 
favages,  by  hunting  and  fifhing  for  them,  gave  them  that  relief 
which  fellow  Britons  refufed.  The  lingered  eight  months, 
awaiting,  but  in  vain,  for  affiftance  from  Scotland,  and  almoft 
all  of  them  either  died  or  quitted  the  fettlement.  Paterfon, 
who  had  beeri  the  firft  that  entered  the  fhip  at  Leith,  was  the 
laft  who  went  on  board  at  Darien. 

During  the  fpace  of  two  years,  while  the  eftablifhment  of 
this  colony  had  been  in  agitation,  Spain  had  made  no  complaint 
to  England  or  Scotland  againft  it  :  the  Darien  council  even 
averred  in  their  papers,  which  are  in  the  Advocates  Librarv. 
that  the  right  of  the  company  was  debated  before  the  king,  in 
prefence  of  the  Spanifh  ambaffador,  before  the  colony  left 
Scotland.  But  now,  on  the  3d  of  May,  1698,  the  Spanifli 
ambaffador  at  London  prelented  a  memorial  to  the  king,  which 
complained  of  the  fettlement  at  Darien  as  an  encroachment  on 
the  rights  of  his  mafter. 

The  Scotch,  ignorant  of  the  mifortunes  of  their  colony,  but 
provoked  at  this  memorial,  fent  out  another  colony  foon  after 
of  thirteen  hundred  men,  to  lupport  an  eftablifhment  which 
was    now    no    more.     But    this    luft    expedition,  having   been 


ic6  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION  OF 

more  haftily  prepared  than  the  firft,  was  unlucky  in  its  paiTage  : 
one  of  the  fhips  was  loft  at  fea,  m>iny  men  died  on  fnip-board, 
and  the  reft  arrived  at  diflerent  times,  broken  in  their  health 
and  difpirited,  when  they  heard  the  fate  of  thole  who  had  gone 
befoie  them. — Added  to  the  misfortunes  of  the  firft  colony, 
the  feccnd  had  a  misfortune  peculiar  to  itfelf :  the  general  affem- 
blv  of  the  church  of  Scotland  fent  out  four  minifters,  with 
orders  "  to  take  charge  of  the  fouls  of  the  colony,  and  to  eieft 
a  prefbytery,  with  a  moderator,  clerk,  and  record  of  proceed- 
ings; to  appoint  ruling  elders,  deacons,  overfeers  of  the  man- 
ners of  the  people,  and  aiTiftants  in  the  exercife  of  church  dif- 
cipline  and  government,  and  to  hold  regular  kirk  felFions." 
When  they  arrived,  the  officers  and  gentlemen  were  occupied 
in  building  houfes  for  themlelves  with  their  own  hands,  becaufe 
there  was  no  help  to  be  got  from  others  ;  yet  the  four  minifters 
complained  grievoufly,  that  the  council  did  not  order  houfes  to 
be  immediately  built  for  their  accommodation.  They  had  not 
the  precaution  to  bring  with  them  letters  of  recommendation 
from  the  directors  at  home  to  the  council  abroad.  On  thefe  ac- 
counts, not  meeting  with  all  the  attention  they  expeftcd  from 
the  higher,  they  paid  court  to  the  inferior  ranks  of  the  colonifts, 
and  by  that  means  threw  divifions  into  tiie  colony. 

The  laft  party  that  joined  the  fecond  colony  at  Darien,  after 
it  had  been  three  months  fettled,  was  Captain  Campbell  of 
Finab,  with  a  company  of  the  people  of  his  cftate,  whom  he 
had  comm.nnded  in  Flanders,  and  whom  he  carried  to  Darien  in 
his  own  fliip.  On  their  arrival  at  New  St.  Andrew,  they  found 
intelligence  had  been  lately  received,  that  a  Spanifh  force  of 
fixteen  hundred  men,  which  had  been  brought  from  the  coaft  of 
the  South  fea,  lay  encamped  at  Tubucantee,  waiting  there  tilj 
a  Spanifh  fquadron  of  eleven  fhips  which  was  ezpefted  ftiould 
arrivcj  v/hen  they  were  jointly  to  attack  the  fort.  The  mili- 
tary command  was  offered  to  Captain  Campbell,  in  compliment 
to  his  reputation  and  to  his  birth,  who  was  defctnded  from  the 
families  of  Bieadalbape  and  Athol.  In  order  to  prevent  a  joint 
attack,  he  refolvcd  to  attack  lirft  ;  and  therefore,  on  the  fecond 
day  after  his  arrival,  he  marched  with  two  hundred  men  to 
'i"ubucaii!.ce,  before  his  arrival  was  known  to  the  erieiriy,  ftormed 
the  camp  in  the  night-time,  diftipatcd  the  Spanifh  force  with 
much  ft-iugliter,  and  returned  to  the  fort  the  fifth  day  :  but  he 
found  the  SpaniHi  fliips  before  the  harbour,  tlicir  troops  landed^ 
and  almoft  all  hope  of  help  vr  provifion  cut  off;  yet  he  {Ipcd.  ; 
*  fie je  near  fix' week?,   till  ahnoft  all  the  oniccrs  v/erp  dead^  \\^ 


TEkRA  FIRM  A,  OR  CASTILE  DEL   ORO.        127 

enemy  by  their  approaches  had  cut  ofF  his  wells,  and  his  balls 
were  lo  far  expended,  that  he  was  obliged  to  melt  the  pewter 
diflies  of  the  garriibn  into  balls.  The  gnrriion  then  capitulated, 
and  obtained  not  only  the  common  honours  of  war  and  lecurity 
for  the  property  of  the  company,  but,  as  if  they  had  been  con- 
<juerors,  ekafted  hoflages  for  performance  of  the  conditions* 
Captain  Campbell  alone  defired  to  be  excepted  from  the  capitu- 
lation, faying,  he  was  fure  the  Spaniards  could  not  forgive  him 
the  m.lfchief  which  he  fo  lately  had  done  them.  The  brave,  by 
their  courage,  often  efcape  that  denth  which  they  leem  to  pro- 
voke :  Captain  Campbell  made  his  elcape  in  his  veiTel,  and, 
flopping  no  where,  arrived  fafely  at  New-York,  and  from 
thence  to  Scotland,  where  the  company  prefented  him  with  a 
gold  medal,  in  which  his  virtue  was  commemorated,  to  inflame 
his  family  with  the  love  of  heroic  aftions. 

A  harder  fate  attended  thofc  whom  Captain  Campbell  left  at 
Darien.  They  were  fo  weak  in  their  health  as  not  to  be  able 
to  weigh  up  the  anchors  of  the  Rifing  Sun,  one  of  their  fhips, 
Ivhich  carried  fixty  guns  ;  but  the  generous  Spaniards  aflifted 
them.  In  going  out  of  the  harbour  fhe  ran  aground  :  the  prey 
was  tempting,  and  to  obtain  it,  the  Spaniards  had  only  to  Hand 
by  and  look  on  ;  but  fhewed  that  mercy  to  the  Scotch  in 
diftrefs,  which  one  of  the  countrymen  of  thofe  Scotch,  General 
Elliot,  returned  to  the  pofterity  of  the  Spaniards  at  the  end  of 
the  late  coftfingration  at  the  fiege  of  Gibraltar.  The  Darien 
fhips  being  leaky  and  weakly  manned,  were  obliged  in  their 
voyage  to  take  fhelter  in  different  ports  belonging  to  Spain  and 
England*  The  Spaniards  in  the  new  world  fhewed  them  kind- 
nefs  ;  the  Englifli  governments  fhewed  them  none;  and  in  one 
place  one  of  their  fhips  was  feized  and  detained.  Of  thefc 
only  Caotain  Campbell's  fhip  and  another  fmall  one  were  faved  : 
the  Royal  Sun  was  loft  on  the  bar  of  Charleflon,  and  of  the 
colony,  not  more  than  thirty,  faved  from  war,  fhipwreck  or 
diieaie,   ever  law  their  country  again. 

Paterfon',  who  had  ftood  the  blow,  could  not  fland  the  re- 
flcftion  of  misfortune  :  he  was  ieized  with  a  lunacy  in  his  paf- 
fage  home  after  the  ruin  of  the  firft  colony,  but  he  recovered 
in  his  own  country,-  wheie  his  Ipirit,  flill  ardent  and  unbroke^ 
prclented  a  new  plan  to  the  company,  founded  on  the  idea  01 
King  William,  that  England  fhould  have  the  joint  dominion  of 
the  fettleinent  with  Scotland. 

He  iurvivcd  m.any  years  in  Scotland,  pitied,  refpefted,  but 
neglefted.     After  the  union  of  the  two   kingdoms,    he   claimed 


123  GEN£ltAL    D  ESC  RI P  TIOiV  OF 

reparation  of  his  lofTes  from  the  equivalent-money  given  b'> 
England  to  the  Darien  company,  but  got  nothing,  becaufe  a 
grant  to  him  from  a  public  fund  would  have  been  only  an  aft  of 
humanity,   not  a  political  job. 

Thus    ended    the   colony    of     Darien.      Men    look   into    the 
works  of  poets    for    lubjefts  of  fatire,   but   they   are  more  often 
to  be  found  in  the  records  of  hiilory.      The  application  of  the 
Dutch   to   King    William   againft    the  Darien   company,   affords 
the  fureft  of  all  proofs,   that  it  was  the    intereft  of   the  Britifh 
iflands  to  fupport  it.      England,   by  the  imprudence  of  ruining 
that  fettlement,   loft  the   opportunity  of  gaining  and  continuing 
to  herfclf  the   greateft    commercial    empire    that    probably  ever 
will  be  upon  earth.     Had  fhe  treated  with  Scotland,  in  the  hour 
of  the  diftrefs  of  the   company,   for  a  joint  poffeflion  of  the  fet- 
tlement,   or  adopted    the    union   of    the  kingdoms,   which    the 
i'overeign  of  both  propofed   to    them,   that    poffefEon  could  cer- 
tainly   have   been    obtained.      Had    fhe    treated    with  Spain    to 
relinquifh  an  imaginary  right,   or  at  Icall  to  give  a  pafFage  acrofs 
the  ifthmus,  upon  receiving  duties  fo    higli  as  to  overbalance  all 
the  chance  of  lofs  by  a  contraband   trade,    fhe   had  probably  ob- 
tained either  the  one  or  the  other.      Had  fhe  broke  with   Spain 
for  the  fake  of  gaining  by  force  one  of  thofe  favours,  {he  would 
have  loft  far  lefs  than  fhe  afterwards  did  by  carrying  a  war  into 
that  country  for  many  years,  to  force  a  king  upon  the  Spaniards 
againft  their  will.      Even  a  rupture  with  Spain  for  Darien,  if  it 
had  proved  fuccefsful,   would  have   knit    the  two   nations    toge- 
ther by  the  moft    folid    of  ties,  their   mutual   intereft^  for    the 
Englifli  muft  then  have  depended  upon  Spain  for  the  fafety    of 
their  caravans  by  land,   and  the  Spaniards  upon  England  for  the 
fafety  of  their  fleets  by  fea.      Spain    and    England   would  have 
been  bound  together  as  Portugal  and    England  have  long  -been  ; 
and  the  Spanifh  treafures  have  failed,  under  the  wings  of  Englifh 
navies,  from  the  Spanifn  main  to  Cadiz,   in  the  fame  manner    as 
the  treafures  of  Portugal  have   failed  under  the  fame  prote£lionj 
facred  and  untouched,   from  the  Brazils  to  Lifbon. 

Panama  is  the  capital  city  of  this  province,  where  the  trea- 
fures of  gold  and  lilver,  and  the  other  rich  merchandifes  of 
Peru,  are  lodged  in  magazines  till  they  are  fen-t  to  Europe.  It 
is  fituated  weft  longitude  8aO  15',  north  latitude  8®  57'. 

When  Guzman  fsrft  touched  at  this  place  in  151/1,  ft  eon- 
lifted  entirely  of  fiftierraen's  huts.  Orius  d'Avila  fettled  a 
c.-4onyhere  iri  a  few  years  after,  and  in  1521  it  was  coaftituted 
a  city  by  the  emperor  Charles  V.   with  the  proper  privileges. 


TERRA  FIRM  A,  OR  CASTILE  DEL  ORO.         129 

In  1670,  it  was  facked  and  burnt  by  John  Morgan,  an  Englifli 
adventurer,  who  had  the  preceding  year  taken  Porto  BcUo. 
This  misfortune  inducSed  the  inhabitants  to  remove  the  city  to 
its  prefent  fituation,  diftant  about  a  league  from  th-e  place  where 
it  flood  before.  For  the  greater  fecurity  the  new  city  tvas  in- 
clofed  by  a  free-ftone  wall,  and  the  houles  were  built  of  ftor.e 
and  brick.  Since  that  time  feveral  baflions  have  been  added^ 
and  now^  there  is  always  a  complete  garrilon  maintained,  and 
the  walls  are  mounted  With  large  cannon.  But  all  thefe  precau- 
tions could  not  lave  this  city  from  another  misfortune  ;  it  was 
entirely  confumed  by  fire  in  the  year  1737.  After  this  accident 
it  was  again  rebuilt,  in  the  manner  as  it  now  ftands,  with  neat 
elegant  houfes,  but  not  magnificent.  The  inhabitants  are  rather 
independent  in  their  fortunes  than  rich  ;  tliere  are  few  of  them 
opulent,  and  fcarce  any  in  a  ftate  of  poverty.  As  to  the  har- 
bour, it  is  convenient,  and  well  fecured  againft  florms  by  a 
number  of  furrounding  iflands,  and  is  capable  of  containing  the 
largeft  fieetSi  Here  the  royal  audience  is  feated,  at  which  the 
governor  of  Panama  refides  ;  for  which  reafon  the  city  is  com- 
monly deemed  the  capital  of  the  province. 

This  place,  a  little  while  after  it  was  founded,  became  the 
capital  of  the  kingdom  of  Terra  Firma.  Some  hopes  weie  at 
firfl;  entertained  from  the  three  provinces  of  Panama,  Darien, 
and  Veragua,  which  compofed  it,  but  this  profperity  vaniflicd 
initantaneoufly.  The  favages  of  Darien  recovered  their  inde- 
pendence, and  the  mines  of  the  two  other  provinces  were  found 
to  be  neither  fufficiently  abundant,  nor  of  an  alloy  good  enough 
to  make  it  worth  while  to  work  them.  Five  or  fix  fmall  bo- 
roughs, in  which  are  leen  fome  Europeans  quite  n.iked,  and  a 
very  fmall  number  of  Indians  v/ho  have  come  to  reiide  theie, 
form  the  whole  of  this  ftate,  which  the  Spaniards  are  not 
afhamed  of  honouring  with  the  great  name  of  kingdom.  It  is 
in  general  barren  and  unwhoieiome,  and  contributes  nothing  to 
trade  but  pearls. 

The  pearl  fifher)'  is  carried  on  in  the  iflnnds  of  the  gulph. 
The  greateft  part  of  the  inhabitants  employ  fuch  of  the  negroes 
in  it  as  are  good  fwimmers.  Thefe  flavcs  plunge  and  re-phsnge 
in  the  fea  in  fearch  of  pearls,  till  this  exercife  has  exhaullcd 
tiaeir  flrength  or  their  fpirits. 

Every  negro  is  obliged  to  deliver  a  certain  number  of  oyflcrs. 
Thofe  in  which  there  are  no  pearls,  or  in  which  the  pearl  is  not 
entirely   formed,  are   not   reckoned.     What   he  is   able    iq  find 

'  Vol.  IV,  % 


5  36  GES'ERAL  DESCRIPTION  Of 

beyond  the  flipulated  obligation,  is  confidercd  as  his  indifpu- 
table  property  ;  he  may  fell  it  to  whom  he  plcafes,  but  com- 
fnonly  he  cedes  it  to  his  mafter  at  a  moderate  price. 

Sea  monftcrs,  \vhich  abound  more  about  the  iflands  where 
■pearls  are  found  than  on  the  neighbouring  coafts,  render  this 
fifhing  dangerous.  Some  of  thefe  devour  the  divers  in  an  in- 
{bnt.  The  manta  fifh,  which  derives  its  name  from  its  figure, 
furrounds  them,  rolls  them  under  its  body,  and  fuflFocates  them. 
In  order  to  defend  themfelvcs  againfb  fuch  enemies,  every  diver 
is  armed  \v  ith  a  poignard  ;  the  moment  he  perceives  any  of  thefe 
voracious  fiili,  he  attacks  them  with  precaution,  wouftds  them, 
and  drives  them  awiiy.  Nutwithftanding  this,  there  are  always 
fome  fiflierrryen  deftroyed,  and  a  great  number  crippled. 

The  pearls  of  Panama  are  commonly  of  a  very  fine  water. 
Some  of  them  are  even  remarltable  for  their  fi25e  and  figure  ; 
thele  -were  foimerly  fold  in  Europe.  Since  art  has  imitated 
them,  and  the  paflion  for  diamonds  has  entirely  fuperfeded,  or 
prodigioufly  diminifhed  the  ufe  of  them,  they  have  found  a  new 
mart  more  advantageous  than  the  firft.  They  are  carried  tor 
Peru,  where  they  are  in  great  cftimation. 

This  branch  of  trade  has,  however,  infinitely  lefs  contri- 
buted to  give  reputation  to  Panama,  than  the  advantage  which  it 
hath  long  enjoyed  of  being  the  mart  of  all  the  produftions  of 
the  country  of  the  Incas  that  are  deftined  for  the  old  worlds 
Thefe  riches,  which  are  brought  hither  by  a  fmall  fleet,  were 
Carried,  fome  on  mules,  others  by  the  river  Chagre,  to  Porto 
Bcllo,  that  is  fituatcd  on  the  northern  coaft  of  the  ifthmus,- 
which  fe  pa  rates  the  two  leas. 

CARTHAGE  N  A. 

Carthagcna  is  one  of  the  mofl  confiderablc  provinces  in  thi:; 
territory,  on  account  of  the  great  trade  carried  on  by  the  capi- 
tah,  fop  the  country  itfelf  is  neither  fertile,  rich,  n6r  populous. 
The  capital  city,  called  likewife  Carthagena,  is  liluated  in  wef?. 
longitude  'j'f,  and  north  latitude  1 1 ',  on  a  fandy  ifland,  by 
jnioll  writers  called  a  peninfula  ;  which  forming  a  narrow  paflagc 
on  the  fouth-weft,  opens  a  communication  ^vith  that  called 
TLerra  Bemba,  as  far  as  Bocco  Chica.  The  little  ifland  which 
novfr  joins  them  was  formerly  the  entrance  of  the  bay,  but 
it    having    been    filled     up    by     orders    of    the    court,    Bocco., 

;  ;  -i  •■■.■■•■  "  J'.     •  -■II  '         '    •'■' 

Chica    became     the    only    entrance;    th'iS,    however,   has   bceir- 
filled  up   fmce   the  attempt  of  V'ernoH  and  Wcntworth,  antj 


TERRA  FIRMA,   OR  CASTILE  DEL  ORO.        131 

the  old  paflage  again    opened.      On    the    north    fide    the    hnd 
is    fo    narrow,    that   before   the    wall    was  begun,    the   diftance 
from    fea    to    fea    was    only    thirty-Hve    toiics  ;    but    afterwards 
enlarging,    it    forms   another    ifl.md  on    this    hdc,    fo    that    ex- 
cepting   thefe    two    places,    the     whole    city    is    entirely    fur- 
rounded  by  fait   water.      To  the   eaftward   it    has   a  cornmuni'-' 
cation,    by  means   of   a    wooden    bridge,    wiili   a  large    fuhurlij 
called  Xemani,     built  on  another   ifland,    which  is  alio  joined 
to   the    continent    by    a    bridge    of    the    fame    materials.       The 
fortifications  both    of  the  city   and  fuburbs   are  built  after  the 
modern  manner,    and  lined  with   free-ftone  ;    and    in    time    of 
pe^ce,     the    garrifon    confills    of    ten    companies,    of     leventy- 
i'even  men  each,    befides   militia^      The    city    and    fuburbs    are 
well    laid    out,    the    flreets    Itrait,     broad,     uniform,    and    well 
paved.     All  the  houfes  aje   built  of   ftone  or  brick,   only  one 
ftory   high,    well    contrived,    neat,    and    furaiihed   with    balco- 
nies   and    lattices    of   wood,    which    is    more     durable    in    that 
climate   than  iron,    the    latter    being     fgan     corroded     by     the 
acrimonious    quality   of    the    atmoipliere,     The    climate   is   ex- 
ceedingly   unhealthy.      The   Europeans    are    particularly     iub- 
jeQ:     to     the    terrible    difeafe     called    tke   black  vomit,    which 
Iweeps  off  multitudes  annually  on  the  arrival    of   the   galleons. 
It   feldom  continues  above   three  or  four  davs,   in  which  time 
the    patient    is   either    dead    or   out   of   danger,    and    if  he    re- 
covers, is  never    fuhjefi    to    a    return    of    tlie    Id  me    diflonipcr. 
This    difeafe    has    hitherto    foiled    all    the   arts    of    the    Spanifh 
phyficians,   as  has    alfo    the   Icproly,     which    is    very    common 
here.      At    Carthagena,    likewifcj    that    painful    tumour   in    the 
legs,    occafioned  by   the   entrance    of  the    dracunculus,  or  "ui- 
fiea-worm,  is  very  common   and    troublefome.     Another  diior- 
der,    peculiar    to    this    country    and    to   I'eru,    is   occafioned    by 
a    little    inieft    called     nigua,    lb    extremely    minute,    as    fcast'e 
to    be    vilible    to   the    naked    eye.     This    inicdt    bieeds    in    the 
duftj  inlinuates   itiejf  into    the    foles    of  the   feet  ai;d   liie  Jegs' 
piercinff  the    fkin   with    fuch    lubtletv,   that    tiicre    is    riO  bcin'«'  ' 
avya^eof  it,   before  it   has    made    its  way    to    t!ie    fhfl;.      If   i(t-  ' 
is    perceived    in    the    beginning,      it    is     extraftcd     w.iih   ■  Ihfclfr   '> 
pain;    but    having     once     lodged     its    head,     and     pierced -it^ic  ■'' 
•fkiri^  j'the "patient  muft  undergo  the  pain  of  ;;n  incif;  5;iynx\Qt!<cSWJ?  ^ 
wHicli    a   ncidus    would  be  formed,    and    g    midtii.ud.e.of'infe*%    ■ 
engendered,    which    would   foon    overlpread    tli.-   fu£,t'<,ntl    b-/.   ■ 
l)rie   ipecies   of    the    nigua   is   venomous,    and     whc*^    it  enters    ' 
ihe-toie-jah  iuflamcfiatory  fwcllmg   takes   plaeo-vHii  •t!»*'••'f^WMi'•^i->-1'i^• 


1S2  CENERAL   DESCRIPTION  OF 


St.     Kf^A'^TH  a. 

i'^S*:  #artTia'fi'  B9ijfl(}fed  Oifi-the  -nftrth,  by  the  North  fca  ;  on 
tile  ^a it,  by  Rio  de  la  Hache  ;  on  the  fouth,  by  New-Granada  : 
a*id  on-  th'<S  'weft^  by  Garthagena.  -  .It  is  three  hundred  miles 
jhei'kngtirj  ahd--two  hundred  in  breadth,  is  a  mountainous 
couiiiiy^/.and  the  4*"^  very  high.  Here  begins  the  famous 
vidge  of  mountains  called  the  {Cordilleras  des  los  Andes,  which 
run  from  north  to  fouth  the  whole  length  of  the  continent  of 
South-America  ;  it  is  extremely  hot  on  the  fe^  coaft,  but  cold 
in  the  internal  parts,  on  account  of  the  mountains;  it  abounds 
with  the  fruits  proper  to  the  climate,  and  there  are  mines 
of  gold  and  pre<?ious  ftones,  as  alfo  lalt-works.  The  Spa- 
niards poffcfs  but  one  part  of  this  province,  in  which  they 
have  built  Martha  the  capital.  The  air  about  the  town,  is 
whcklome,  and  is  feated  near  the  fea,  having  a  harbour 
lurrouiiued  with  high  mountains.  It  was  formerly  very 
confiderable  when  the  galleons  were  lent  thither,  but  is  now 
come  alm.oft  to  nothing.  Weft  longitude  74'^  11',  north  latii- 
tude   11^   20/. 

VENEZUELA. 

The  province  contiguous  to  St.  Martha  on  the  eaft  was  firft 
vifued  by  Alor.lo  de  0)cda,  in  the  year  1499;  and  the  Spa- 
niards, on  tlieir  landing  there,  having  oblerved  fome  huts 
in  an  Indian  village  built  upon  piles,  in  order  to  raile  them 
above  the  ftagnated  water  which  covered  the  plain,  were  led 
to  bellow  upon  it  the  name  of  Venezuela,  or  Little-Venice, 
by  their  ulual  propenfity  to  find  a  reiemblance  between  what 
they  difcovered  in  America,  and  the  objefts  which  were 
familiar  to  them  in  Europe,  They  made  fome  attempts  to 
'tettle  there,  but  with  little  fucceib.  The  final  reduftron  of 
'Vtit  province  was  accomplilhed  by  means  very  different  from 
tfioie  to  which  Spain  v.as  indebted  for  its  other  acquifitions 
■^^tlf^'^'-^Ntfw^'^VVorld,  The  ambition  of  Charlei  -  V.  often 
cngagVd  Tiftn  in  operations  of  fuch  variety  and  extent,  thjit 
his  revenues  Were  not  fufficient  to  defray  the  expcnfe  of 
t..uvir,g  them  into  execution.  Among  other  expedients  for 
lupplying  the  deficiency  of  his  fundsj  he  had  borrou'ed  large 
fuins  from  the  Vellers  of  Augfbyfgh,  .^he  rtioft  opulent  mer- 
chi.nt6  at  that  time  in  Europe.  By  way  of  retribution  for  thefcj 
'-.1  in  hopes  perhaps,  of  obtaining  a  n«\y  loan,  he  bellowed  upon 


TERRA  FIRM  A,  OR  CASTILE  DEL  ORO.         igg 

them  the  province  of  Venezuela,  to  be  held  as  an  hereditary- 
fief  from  the  crown  of  Caftile,  on  condition  that  within  a 
Jimited  time  they  fhould  render  themfelves  mafters  of  the 
country,  and  eftablifli  a  colony  there.  Under  the  direftion  of 
fuch  perfons,  it  might  have  been  expefted,  that  a  fetllement 
would  have  been  eftablifhed  on  maxims  very  different  from 
thofe  of  the  Spaniards,  and  better  calculated  to  encourage 
kich  ufeful  induftry,  as  mercantile  proprietors  might  have 
known  to  be  the  moft  certain  fource  of  profperity  and  opu- 
lence :  but  unfortunately  they  committed  the  execution  of 
their  plan  to  fome  of  thofe  foldiers  of  fortune  with  which 
Germany  abounded  in  the  fixteenth  century.  Thefe  adven- 
turers, impatient  tp  amafs  riches,  that  they  might  fpeedily 
abandon  a  llation  which  they  foon  difcovered  to  be  very 
uncoxnfortable,  inftead  of  pknting  a  colony  in  order  to  culti- 
vate and  improve  the  country,  wandering  from  diftrift  to 
diftrift  in  fearch  of  mines,  plundering  the  natives  with  un- 
feeling rapacity,  or  oppreffing  them  by  the  impofition  of  into- 
lerable tafks.  In  the  courfe  of  a  few  years,  their  avarice  and 
exaftions,  in  comparifon  with  which  thofe  of  the  Spaniards 
were  moderate,  defolated  the  province  fo  completely,  that  it 
could  hardly  afford  them  fubfiftence ;  and  the  Velfers  relin- 
ijuifhed  a  property  frorn  which  the  inconfiderate  condu£l  of  their 
agents  left  them  no  hope  of  ever  deriving  any  advantage.* 
When  the  wretched  remainder  of  the  Germans  deferted  Vene- 
zuela, the  Spaniards  again  took  poffeffion  of  it  :  but  notwith= 
{landing  many  natural  advantages,  it  is  one  of  their  mod 
languilhing  and  unprodu6live  fettlements, 

PARIA   AND    COMANA. 


Thefe  provinces  are  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  North 
fea,  on  the  eafl  by  Surinam,  on  the  wefl  by  New-Granada, 
and  on  the  fouth  by  Guiana  ;  its  produce  is  various,  but 
in  relating  the  origin  and  operations  of  the  mercantile  com- 
nany,  in  which  an  exclufive  right  of  trade  with  them  has  been 
vefled,  we  fhall  hereafter  have  occafion  to  conlider  their  ftate 
,ajid.p,roduftions  in  a  more  ample  manner. 


■■'  Civedo  y  Bagnos  Hlft.  de  Venezuela,  p.   i !,&;<;, 


>q  ^dQO'i 


134  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION    OF 

NEW-GRANADA  and  POP  AY  AN. 

The  provinces  fometimes  known  as  the  new  kingdom  of 
Granada,  is  entirely  an  inlund  country  of  great  extent.  This 
important  addition  was  made  to  the  dominions  of  Spain  about 
the  year  t536,  by  Sebaftian  de  Benalcazar  and  Gonzalo  Ximenes 
de  Quefada,  two  of  the  braved  and  moft  accomplifhed  officers 
employed  in  the  conqueft  of  America,  The  former,  who  com- 
manded at  that  time  in  Quito,  attacked  it  from  the  fouth  ;  the 
latter  made  his  invafion  from  Santa  Martha  on  the  north. 
As  the  original  inhabitants  of  this  region  were  farther  advanced 
in  improvement  than  any  people  in  America  but  the  iVIexicans 
and  Peruvians,  they  defended  themfelves  with  great  refolution 
and  good  conduft.  The  abilities  and  perfeveranpe  of  Benalcazar 
and  Oueiada  furmounted  all  oppofition,  though  not  without 
.encountering  many  dangers,  and  reduced  the  country  into  th^ 
form  of  a    Spanifh   province. 

The  provinces  are  fo  far  elevated  above  the  level  of  the  fca, 
that  though  they  approach  ajmoft  to  the  equator,  the  cjimate  is 
remarkably  temperate.  The  fertility  of  the  vallies  is  not  inferior 
to  thole  of  the  richefl  diilrifls  in  America,  and  the  higher 
grounds  yield  gold  and  precious  flones  of  various  kinds.  It 
is  not  by  dicing  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth  that  this  gold  is 
found,  it  is  mingled  with  the  foil  near  the  furface,  and  (eparated 
from  it  by  repeated  wafhing  with  water  :  this  operation  is 
carried  on  wholly  by  negro  (laves  ;  for  though  the  chill  fubter- 
ranean  air  has  been  dilcovered,  by  experience,  to  be  lb  fatal  to 
them,  that  they  cannot  be  employed  with  advantage  in  the  deep 
filver  mines,  they  are  more  capable  of  performing  the  other 
fpecies  of  labour  than  Indians.  As  the  natives  are  exempt  froii^ 
that  fervice,  which  has  wafted  their  race  lo  rapidly  in  other 
parts  of  America,  the  country  is  ftill  remarkably  populous. 
Some  diftiifts  yield  gold  with  a  profufion  no  lefs  wonderful 
than  in  the  vale  of  Cincguijla,  and  it  is  often  found  in  large 
pcpitas,  or  grains,  which  manifeft  the  abundance  in  which  it  is 
produced.  On  a  rifing  ground  near  Pamplona,  fingle  labourers 
have  collefted  in  a  day  what  was  equal  in  value  to  a  thouland 
pcfos.  A  late  governor  of  tjanta  Fc  brought  with  hirn  to  Spain 
a  lump  of  pure  gold,  eftimated  to  be  worth  feven  hundred  and 
forty  pounds  ftcrling.  This,  which  is  perhnps  the  largeft  anc^ 
hneft  fpecimen  ever  found  in  the  new  world,  ks  now  depofited 
in  the  royal  cabinet  of  Madrid.  But  without  founding  any 
culcukilion  on    wiiat    is   rare    and    extraordinary,    the    value    of 


TERRA  FIRM/I,  OR  CASTILE  DEL  ORO,  135 

the  gold  ufually  coUefted  in  this  country,  particularly  in 
Popayan  and  Choco,  is  of  tonfidefable  amount.  Its  towns 
are  populous  atid  flourifiiing.  The  nurftber  of  inhabitants  in 
almoft  every  part  of  the  country  daily  increafes  ;  cultivation 
and  induftry  of  various  kinds  begin  to  be  encouraged,  and  to' 
profper ;  a  confiderable  trade  is  carried  on  with  Carthagena,  the 
produce  of  the  mines  and  other  cominodities  being  conveyed 
down  the  great  river  of  St.  Magdalen  to  that  city.  On  ano- 
ther quarter  there  is  a  communication  with  the  Atlantic  by  the; 
tiver  Orinoco ;  but  the  country  which  ftretches  along  its  banks 
iowards  the  eaft  is  little  known,  and  imperfeftly  occupied  b^ 
the  Spaniards^ 


brris   0*j 


(     135     ) 


HISTORY  OF 


PERU. 


P. 


ERU  is  fituated  between  the  ec|uator  and  25*^  foiitVi  latitude,- 
and  60*^  and  81'  weft  longitude;*  its  length  is  eighteen  hun- 
dred miles,  and  its  breadih,  according  to  fome  authors,  three 
hundred  and  ninety,  and  others  fix  hundred  +  miles ;  but  the 
latefl  and  moft  authentic  accounts  ftate  it  at  about  five  hundred. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  T^erra  Finna,  on  the  weft  by 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  on  the  South  by  Chili,  and  on  the  eaft 
by  the  mountains  called  the  Andes.  The  bounds  of  our 
work  will  not  permit  us  to  enter  into  the  ancient  hiftory  of 
this  country  before  its  conqueft  by  the  Spaniards ;  we  can, 
therefore,  only  in  brief  obferve,  that  the  empire  of  Peru,  at 
the  time  it  was  fubdued,  extended  along  the  South  fea,  from 
the  river  of  Emeralds  to  Chili,  and  on  the  land  fide  to  Popayan, 
according  to  fome  geographers.  It  contained  within  its  ex- 
tent that  famous  chain  of  mountains  which  rifes  in  the  Terra 
Magellanica,  and  is  gradually  loft  in  Mexico,  in  order  to 
unite,  as  it  fiiould  feem,  the  fouthefn  parts  of  America  with 
the  northern. 

'  it  is  now  divided  into  three  grand  divifions  or  audiences  : 
1.  Quito:  2..  Lima,  or  Los  Reyes;  and,  3.  Los  Charcos. 
As  to  its  climate,  mines,  foil  and  produce,  they  differ  greatly 
in  different  parts  of  the  country. 

QUITO. 

The  extenfive  province  of  Quito  is  bounded  on  the  nofth 
by   Popayan,  and   includes  a  part    of  that '  government ;  alfo  by 

*  T]\e  compilers  of  the  EncyclopcEdia  Britannica  ftatr  the  fituation  of  Peru 
between  1  ilcg.  40  min.  north,  and  26  deg.  10  min.  fouth  latitude,  and  56  and 
Si  deg.  weft  longitude,  and  make  its  length  eighteen  hundred,  a»d  it&  brrtdiii, 
as  above,  three  hundred  and  ninety  miles- 

+  Guthrie. 


0  F    P  E  R  U,  .  :37 

Santa  Fe  de  Bogota ;  on  the  fouth  by  the  governments  of  Piura 
and  Chachapoyas  ;  on  the  eaft  it  extends  over  the  whole  go- 
vernment of  Maynas  and  the  river  of  the  Amazons  to  the  me- 
ridian, which  divides  the  Spanifh  from  the  Portuguefe  domi- 
hions ;  and  on  the  well  it  is  bounded  by  the  South  fea  ; 
extending,  according  to  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  hx  hundred  leagues 
in  length,  and  about  two  hundred  in  its  greateft  breadth  ;  but 
this  greatly  exceeds  the  coriiputatiorv  of  all  other  geographers. 
He  however  obferves,  that  it  mull  be  owned  a  great  part  of 
thofe  vaft  dominions  are  either  inhabited  by  nations  of  Indians, 
br  have  not  hitherto  been  lufftciently  peopled  by  the  Spaniards, 
if  indeed  they  had  been  thoroughly  known  ;  and  that  all  the 
parts  that  can  properly  be  faid  to  be  peopled,  and  aftually  fub- 
jeft  to  the  Spanifh  government,  are  thofc  intercepted  by  the 
two  Cordilleras  of  ti"ie  Andes,  which,  in  comparifon  to  the 
extent  of  the  countrv,  may  be  termed  a  ftreet  or  lane,  fifteen 
leagues,  or  fometimes  more^  from  eaft  to  weft ;  to  this  muft  be 
added  feveral  detached  governments,  feparated  by  the  very  ex- 
tenfive  trafts  inhabited  by  free  Indians. 

The  climate  of  Quito  differs  from  all  others  in  the  fame  pa- 
rallel, fince  even  in  the  center  of  the  torrid  zone,  or  although 
under  the  equinoftial,  the  heat  is  not  only  very  tolerable,  but 
even  in  Tome  places  the  cold  is  painful ;  while  others  enjoy  all 
the 'advantages  of  a  perpetual  fpring,  the  fields  being  conftantly 
covered  with  verdure,  and  enatrelled  with  flowers  of  the  moft 
lively  colours.  The  mildnefs  of  the  climate,  free  from  the 
extremes  ui  heat  and  cold,  and  the  conftant  equality  of  the 
day  and  night,  render  this  country,  which,  from  its  fituation, 
Blight  be  thought  to  be  parched  by  the  conftant  heat  of  the 
fun,  and  fcarcely  inhabitable,  both  plcafant  and  fertile ;  for 
Nature  has  here  difpcnfed  her  bleffings  with  fo  liberal  a  hand, 
thst  this, country  m  feveral  reipc£ls  furpafies  thofe  of  the  tem- 
perate zones,  where  the  vicilTitudes  of  winter  and  fummer,  and 
the  change  froni  heat  to  cold,  caufe  the  extremes  of  both  to  be 
more  feniibly  felt.  However,  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
the  air  is  very  different  ;  in  one  part  are  mountains  of  a  ftu- 
pendous  height  and  magnitude,  with  their  fummits  covered 
with  fnow.  The  plains  are  temperate,  the  valleys  hot,  and, 
according  to  the  high  or  low  fituation  of  the  country,  are  found 
all  the  variety  of  gradations  in  temperature  poffible  to  be  con- 
ceived betM'eCn  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold. 

Quito,  the  Ciapital,  it>  o<«^  13'  fouth  latitude,  and  'j'y®  50' 
•*v€ft    longitude  from    Greenwich,   is   fo    happily   fituated,    that 

T 


>3^  OEFERAL    DESCRIPTION 

T^.either  licat  nor  cold  are  troublefome,  though  both  may  be  felt 
in  its  ncighb  >>Luhood  ;  and  what  renders  this  equahty  more  de- 
Irghtfiil  is.  that  it  is  conftant  throughout  the  whole  year,  the 
tlifFerence  between  the  feafons  being  fcarce  perceptible.  Indeed 
the  mornings  are  eool,  the  remainder  of  the  day  warm,  and 
the  night*  of  an  agreeable  temperature. 

The  tvinds^,  which  are  pme  and  falubrious,  blow  for  the  moft 
part  from  north  to  fouth,-  but  never  with  any  violence,  though 
thty  foTnefirrres  fhift  their  quarters,  but  without  any  regard  to 
the  fealon  of  the  year.  Such  frgnal  advantages  refulting  from 
the  cliniauC,  foil,  and  afpeft  of  this  country,  would  be  luflB.ci- 
ent  to  render  it  the  moft  enviable  fpct  upon  earth,  as  it  is  fup-^ 
■pcti'dd  to  be  the  moft  elevated,  if,  whilft  enjoying  thefe  delights, 
the  inhnbitnnts  were  not  harafled  by  terror,  and  expofed  to 
continu  il  danger  :  for  here  tiemendous  tempefts  of  thunder  and 
lightning  prevail,  which  are  iuffi<;ient  to  appal  the  ftouteft  heart  ;• 
whilft  earthquakes  frequently  fpread  univerlat  apprehenfions^ 
and  fomctinies  bury  cities  in   Fuins< 

The  diftinftion  of  v/inrter  and  fummer  conPifls  in  a  very 
minute  difference  ;  the  interval  between  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber and  thofe  of  April,  May  or  June,  is  here  called  the  winter 
feafon,  and  the  other  motiths  compofe  the  fummer.  In  the 
former  feafon  the  rain  chiefly  prevails,  and  in  the  kttcr  the  in- 
habitants frequently  enjoy  whole  da)'S  of  fine  weather  ;  but 
whenever  the  rains  are  difcontrnued  for  above  a  fortnight,  the 
inhabitants  are  in  the  utmoft  confternation,  and  public  prayers 
are  offered  up  for  their  return.  On  the  other  hand,  when  they 
continue  a  fhort  time  without  intermiffion,  the  like  fears^  pre- 
vail, and  the  churches  are  again  crowded  with  fupplicants  to 
obtain  fine  weather ;  for  a  long  drought  produces  dangerous 
dilcafes,  and  a  continual  rain,  without  intervals  of  funfhine, 
deftroys  the  fruits  of  the  earth.'  The  city  of  ^uito,  however, 
frtijoys  one  peculiar  advantage  in  being  free  from  mufketoes  and 
other  ti"oublelotr.c  infects,  fuch  as  fleas  a-nd  venomous  reptiles^ 
except  the  nigiia  or  pique,  which  is  a  very  fmall  infe£l  Ihaped 
like  a  flea,  but   hardly  vifible  to   the  fight. 

The  fertility  of  the  loil  here  is  incredible,  for  the  fruits  anci 
beauties  of  the  feveral  feaions  are  vifible  at  the  fame  time  ;  and 
■^he  curious  European  oblervcs  with  a  pfeaffiig.  admiratiicrn,  that 
•wliile  fome  heibs  of  the  field  are  fading,  others  of  the  fa'ffie 
kind  are  fpringing  up,  while  fome  flowers  lofe  their  beauty, 
ctliers  bloW  to  continue  the  enamelled  profpeft :  tTni^'^i^rhen 
the    fruits  of  the  trees'  have  attained  their  maturityi'%nd'"the 


V  F     P  E  R  U.  S39 

leaves  begin  to  change  their  colour,  fizfli  leaves.  bloiTom,  and 
fruits  are  (een  in  their  proper  gradation,  in  fize  and  ripencls  on 
the  lame  tree.  The  fame  inceffant  fertility  is  confpicuous  in 
the  corn,  both  reaping  and  fowing  being  carried  on  at  tlic 
fame  time;  fo  that  the  decUvitics  of  the  neighbouring  hills 
exhibit  ail  the  beauties  of  the  four  leafons  in  one  affeiribUge. 
Though  all  this  is  generally  feen,  yet  there  is  a  fettled  time,  for 
the  grand  harveft  :  yet  iometimes  the  moll  favourable  feafon 
for  lowing  in  one  place  is  a  month  or  two  after  that  of  anoiherj 
though  their  diftance  does  not  exceed  three  or  four  leagues. 
-Thus  in  different  fpots,  and  Iometimes  in  one  and  the  lame, 
fowing  and  reaping  are  performed  throughout  the  whole  year, 
t;he  forwardnels  or  retardment  naturally  arihng  from  the  dif- 
ferent lituations,  fuch  as  mountains,  riling  grounds,  plains 
and  valleys  ;  and  the  temperature  being  different  in  eacli,  the 
befb  times  for  performing  the  leveral  operations  of  hulbandty 
muft  alio  differ. 

The  chirimoya  is  confidered  as  one  of  the  moft  delicious 
fruits  in  the  world  ;  its  dimenfions  are  various,  being  from  one 
to  five  inches  in  diameter;  its  figure  is  impeifeftly  round, 
flatted  towards  the  flalk,  where  it  forms  a  kind  of  navel,  but 
all  the  other  parts  are  nearly  circular  :  it  is  covered  with  a  thin 
foft  fliell,  which  adheres  lo  clofely  to  the  pulp  as  not  to  be 
feparated  from  It  without  a  knife  ;  the  outward  coat  is  green, 
variegated  with  prominent  veins,  forming  all  over  it  a  kind  of 
net-work  :  the  pulp  is  white,  and  contains  a  large  quantity  of 
juice  refembling  honey,  of  a  fweet  taftc,  mixed  with  a  gentle 
a,cid  of  a  moll  exquifite  flavour.  The  feeds  are  formed  in 
feveral  parts  of  the  pulp,  and  are  fomewhat  flat.  The  tree  is 
high  and  tufted,  the  ftem  large  and  round,  but  with  fomc 
inequalities,  full  of  elliptic  leaves,  terminating  in  a  point. 
The  bloflom  differs  little  from  the  colour  of  the  leaves,  which 
is  a  darkifh  green  ;  and  though  far  from  being  bcauLiful,  is  re- 
markable for  its  incomparable  fragrance. 

The  granadilla  in  its  fliape  relembles  an  hen's  egg,  but  is 
larger;  the  oulfide  of  tlie  fhell  is  imooth,  glofl'y,  and  of  a 
^fijiint  carnation  colour,  and  the  .infide  white  and  loft;  the  Iheil 
,^ntains  a  vifcous  liquid  lubflance  full  of  very  finall  and  deli- 
cate grains,  lels  hajd  than  thole  of  the  pomegranate.  This 
medullary  iubflance  is  feparated  from  the  fhell  by  a  fine  and 
tranfparent  membrane.  Its  fruit  hiis  a  delightful  fweetnefij 
blended  with  acidity,  very  cordial  and  lefrefhing,  and  fo  whple- 
^pjne^  that  there  is  no  danger  of  eating  to  excels, 

T    3 


140  GENERAL  PESCRJPTJON 

The  frutilla,  or  Peruvian  flrawberry,  is  very  different  from 
that  of  Europe  in  fize  ;  for  though  they  arc  here  generally  not 
above  an  inch)  in  length,  they  are  much  larger  in  other  parts  of 
Peru  ;  but  their  tafte,  though  juicy,  and  not  unpalatable,  i$  not 
equal  to  thofc  in  Europe. 

The  country  is  obferved  to  abound  more  in  women  than 
men,  which  is  the  more  remarkable,  as  thofe  caufes  which 
induce  men  to  leave  their  countryj  as  travelling,  commerce, 
and  war,  naturally  bring  over  more  men  from  Europe  than 
women.  But  there  are  many  families  in  which  there  are  a 
number  of  daughters,  without  one  fon  among  them.  The 
women  enjoy  a  better  ftate  of  health  than  the  men,  which 
may  be  owing  in  fome  meafure  to  the  climate,  but  more 
particularly  to  the  early  intemperance  and  voluptuoufricrs  of 
the  other  fex. 

The  Creoles  are  well  made,  of  a  proper  flature,  and  of  a 
lively  and  agreeable  countenance.  The  Meftizos  are  alfo  in 
general  well  made,  often  taller  than  the  ordinary  fize,  very 
robuft,  and  have  an  agreeable  air.  The  Indians,  both  men  and 
women,  are  commonly  low  of  ftalure,  though  ftrong  and  well 
proportioned ;  but  more  natural  defefts  are  to  be  found  among 
them  than  in  any  of  the  reft.  Some  are  remarkably  fhort,  fome 
ideots,  dumb,  or  bUnd,  Their  hair  is  generally  thick  and 
long,  which  they  wear  loofe  on  their  Ihoulders  ;  but  the 
Indian  women  plait  theirs  behind  with  a  ribband,  and  cut  that 
before  a  little  above  the  eyebrows,  from  one  ear  to  the  other. 
The  great  tftdilgrace  that  can  be  offered  to  an  Indian  of  either 
fex  is  to  cut  off  their  hair  ;  for  whatever  corporal  punifhment 
their  mafters  think  proper  to  inflict  on  them,  they  bear  with 
patience  ;  but  this  affront  they  never  forgive,  and  accordingly 
the  government  has  intorpofed,  and  limited  this  punifhrnent  to 
the  moft  enormous  crimes.  The  colour  of  the  hair  is  generally 
a  deep  black  ;  it  is  lank,  harffi,  and  as  coarle  as  that  of  a  horfe. 
On  the  contrary,  the  male  Meftizos,  in  order  to  difli^nguiffi 
themfelves  from  the  Indians,  cut  off  their  hair,  but  the  females 
do  not  adopt  that  cuftom. 

The  Meftizos  in  general   wear  a  blue  cloth,  m.anufactured   in  . 
this    country;    but    though    they   are    the   iowcft   clals   of    thq 
Spaniards,    they    are    very    ambitious    of    diftinguslhing    them- 
felves  as  fuch,  either   by  the  j<;;$)iQi»*;.^iB  if<(hion  9;? ,  tljg.fi|5^t^es 
thcy  w'ear.  ;'  '(t;    ni    nwori^     .i->r{    ^e  "{r^    ^t^r^r. 

The  Meftizo  women  affcft  to  drefs  in  the  iame   m.anner   a$ 
the  Spaijilh,   though  they  cannot  equal  the   ladies  in  ,^h?  rich-.j 
nefs  of  their  ftuffs.      The  meaner  fort  wear  eo  ihoes,  but,   like 
the  men  of  the  fame  rank,  go  barefooLetl. 


0  ¥     P  E  R  U,  141 

The  drefs  of  the  Indians  confifts  of  white  cotton  drawerSj 
tvhich  hang  down  to  the  calf  of  their  leg,  where  they  arq 
1  oofe,  and  edged  with  a  lace  i'uitable  to  the  fluff.  The  ufe  of 
a  Ihirt  is  fupplied  by  a  black  cotton  frock,  made  in  the  form 
of  a  fack,  with  three  openings  at  the  bottom,  one  in  the 
middle  for  the  head,  and  others  at  the  corners  for  the  arms ; 
thus  covering  their  naked  bodies  down  to  their  knees :  over 
this  is  a  ferge  cloak,  with  a  hple  in  the  middle  for  putting  the 
head  through,  and  a  hat  made  by  the  natives.  This  is  the  ge- 
neral drefs,  which  they  never  lay  afide,  even  while  they  fleep  ; 
and  they  have  no  additional  cloathing  for  their  legs  or  feet, 
The  Indians,  who  have  acquired  lome  fortune,  particularly  the 
barbers  and  phlebotomifts,  dillinguifh  themfelves  from  their 
countrymen  by  the  finenefs  of  their  drawers,  and  by  wearing  a 
iliirt,  which,  though  without  fleeves,  has  a  lace  four  or  five 
fingers  in  breadth,  taflened  round  like  a  kind  of  rufF  or  band. 
They  are  fond  of  filver  or  gold  buckles  to  their  fhoes,  though 
they  wear  no  ftockings,  and  inftead  of  a  mean  ferge  cloak, 
wear  one  of  fine  cloth,  which  is  often  adorned  with  gold  or 
filver  lace. 

There  are  two  kinds  of  drelTes  worn  by  the  Indian  women, 
made  in  the  fame  plain  manner  with  ihofe  worn  by  the  men  in 
general,  the  whole  confiding  of  a  fhort  petticoat  and  a  veil  of 
American  baize.  But  the  drels  of  the  loweft  clafs  of  Indiarj 
women  is  only  a  bag  of  the  fame  make  and  fluff  as  that  of  the 
men,  which  they  faftci:!  00  their  fhoulders  with  two  large 
pins  ;  it  reaches  down  to  the  calf  of  the  leg,  and  is  faflened 
found  the  waifj;  with  a  kind  of  girdle.  Inflead  of  a  veil,  they 
wear  about  the  neck  a  piece  of  the  fame  coarfe  ftufl",  dyed 
black,  but  their  arms  and  legs  are  naked. 

The  people  have  difhes  unknown  in  Europe,  but  are  parti- 
cularly fond  of  cheefe,  and  have  excellent  butter  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Quito.      Sweetmeats  are  very  much  admired. 

Kiirri  is  commonly  drank  here  by  perlons  of  all  ranks,  bu<: 
their  favourite  liquor  is  brandy.  The  difordcrs  arifing  from 
the  excefTive  ufe  of  Ipirituous  liquors  are  chiefly  iecn  amonj^ 
the  Meflizos  ;  and  the  lower  clals  of  women,  but  among  the 
Creoles  and  the  Meflizos,  are  alio  extremely  additled  to  the 
fame  ipecies  of  debauchery. 

'Another  liquor  much  ufed  in  this  country  is  mate,  which  is 
made  of  an  herb  known  in  all  thefe  parts  of  America  by  the 
name  of  paraguay,  as  being  tlie  produce  of  that  country. 
Some  of  it  is  put  into  a  calabafn  tipped  with  hlver.   called  here 


«4«  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

mate,  with  fugar  and  fome  cold  water.  After  it  has  continued 
there  fome  time,  the  calabafli  is  filled  with  boiling  water,  and 
they  drink  the  liquor  through  a  pipe  fixed  in  the  calabalh.  It 
i§  alfo  ufual  to  fqueeze  into  the  liquor  a  Imall  quantity  of  the 
juice  of  4emons  or  Seville  oianges,  mixed  with  lome  perfumes 
from  odoriferous  flowers.  This  is  their  ufual  drink  in  the 
morning  fading,  and  many  alfo  ufe  it  at  their  evening  regale. 
The  manner  of  drinking  it  appears  very  indelicate,  the  whole 
company  taking  it  fuccelTively  through  the  fame  pipe,  it  being 
carried  feveral  times  round  the  company  till  all  are  fatisfied. 
This,  among  the  Creoles,  is  the  highefl;  enjoyment  ;  fo  that 
Avhen  they  travel,  they  never  fail  to  carry  witli  them  a  fuffi* 
cient  quantity  of  it,  and  till  they  have  taken  their  dofe  of 
mate  they  never  eat. 

The  vice  of  gaming  is  here  carried  to  an  extravagant  height, 
to  the  ruin  of  many  families,  fome  lofing  their  (lock  in  trade, 
others  the  very  clothes  from  their  backs,  and  afterward  thof? 
VeloRging  to  their  wives,  which  they  hazard,  flimulatcd  by  the 
Ijope  of  recovering  their  owq. 

The  common  people,  the  Indians,  and  even  the  domeftics, 
are  greatly  additled  to  ilealmg.  The  Meflizos,  though  arrant 
cowards,  do  not  want  audacity  in  this  way  ;  for  though  they 
Will  not  venture  to  attack  any  one  in  the  Ilreet,  it  is  a  commori 
praftice  to  fnatch  off  a  perfon's  hat,  and  immediately  ieck 
their  fafety  in  flight.  This  acquifition  is  fometimes  of  conlide- 
rable  value  ;  the  hats  worn  by  perfons  of  rank,  and  even  by 
tjie  -N^-caltJiy  citizens,  when  dreifed,  being  of  white  beaver,-  , 
worth  fifteen  dollars,  befide  the  hat  band  of  gold  or  filver  lace, 
t;i(lencd  with  a  gold  buckle  let  with  diamonds  or  emeralds. 
■  In  Quito,  and  all  the  towns  and  villages  of  its  province, 
tlifierent  dialers  are  fpoken,  Spanifh  being  no  lels  common 
tjian  the  Inga,  the  language  of  the  countiy,  1  he  Creoles  u(ie 
the  latter  as  much  as  the  foimer,  but  both  are  confiderably 
a^lulterated  by  borrowed  words  or  expieiTions.  The  firll  lan- 
guage generally  fpoken  by  children  is  the  Inga,  for  the  nurfes 
being  Indians,  many  of  them  do  not  underiland  a  word  of 
Sipanifn,  and  thus  ihey  afterward  Jcarn  a  j^igon  compofcd  of 
both  languages. 

-  The  lum.ptuous  manner  of  performing  the  laft  oiFices  for  the 
Je'adj  demonllrates  how  far  the  power  of  habit  is  capable  -of 
prevailing  over  reafon  and  prudence,  for  their  oftentation  is  fo 
great  in  this  particular,  that  manv  families  of  credit  are  ruined 
Cjv  preroftevouny  endravourint^  to  excel  others;   and  the  people 


0  }'     PER  U. 


M3 


here  may  be  faid  to  toil  and  icheme  to  lay  up  wealtli,  to  enable 
their  fucccffors  to  lavilh  honours  upon  a  body  infenfible  of  all 
pageantry. 

The  commerce  of  the  province  of  Ouito  is  chiefly  carried 
<5n  by  Europeans  fettled  here,  and  others  who  occafionally 
arrive.  The  manu-fa£lures  of  this  province  are  only  cottons, 
fome  white  and  ftriped  baize,  and  cloths,  which  meet  witlt 
a  good  market  at  Lima,  for  iupplying  the  inward  provinces 
of  Peru,  The  returns  are  made  partly  in  filver,  ajid  partly  in 
fringes  made  of  gold  and  filver  thread,  and  wine,  brandy,  oil, 
copper,  tin,  lead,  and  quickfilver.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
galleons  at  Carthagena,  thefe  traders  rcfort  thither  to  purchafe 
European  goods,  which,  at  their  return,  they  conGgn  to  their 
correfpondents  all  over  the  province.  The  coafts  of  New- 
Spain  fupply  this  province  with  indigo,  of  which  there  is  a 
very  large  confumption  at  the  manufa£lures,  blue  being  univer- 
fally  the  colour  which  this  people  adopt  for  their  apparel. 
They  alfo  import,  by  way  of  Guayaquil,  iron  and  fleel,  both 
from  Europe  and  the  coafl  of  Guatinuda. 

The  difpofrtion  of  the  Indians  in  the  province  of  Quito  is 
extremely  remarkable,  and  they  appear  to  have  no  refemblance 
to  the  people  found  there  by  thole  who  firfl  difeovered  the 
country.  They  at  prcfent  poffcls  a  tranquility  not  to  be  dif* 
turbed  either  by  fortunate  or  unfortunate  events.  In  their 
mean  apparel  they  are  as  contented  as  a  prince  clothed  in  the 
moft  fplendid  robes.  They  fhew  the  fame  difregard  to  riches; 
and  even  the  authority  and  grandeur  within  their  reach  is  fo 
little  the  objeft  of  their  ambition,  that  to  all  appearances  is 
fcems  to  be  the  fame  to  an  Indian  whether  he  be  created  an 
alcaide,  or  obliged  to  perfom  the  office  of  a  common  execu- 
tioner. 

Their  fioth  is  fo  great,  that  fcareely  any  thing  can  induce 
them  to  work.  Whatever,  therefore,  is  neceffary  to  be  done, 
is  left  to  the  Indian  women,  who  are  much  more  aftive  ;  they 
ipin  and  iiiake  the  half  fliiits  and  drawers  which  form  the  only 
apparel  of  their  hufbands  ;  they  cook  the  provifions,  grind 
bailey,  and  brew  the  beer  called  chicha,  while  the  hufband  fits 
fquatting  on  his  hams,  the  ulual  poflure  of  the  Indians,  look- 
ing at  his  bufy  wife".  The  only  domeftic  fervice  they  do  is  to 
plough  their  little  ipot  of  land,  which  is  lowed  by  the  wife, 
WhemS^cy  are  once  fcated  on  their  hams,  no  reward  can  induce 
them  to  ftjir  j.fo  that  if  a  traveller  has  loft  his  way,  and  happens 
to  come  to  one:  of  their  cottages,  they  charge  their  wives  to  fay 
that    they   are    not    at    home.      Should   the  paffenger  alight  and 


144  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

enter  the  cottage,  the  Indian  would  ftill  be  fafe,  for  having  hd 
light  but  what  comes  through  a  hole  in  the  door,  he  could  not 
be  difcovered  ;  and,  fljould  the  ftranger  even  fee  the  Indian, 
neither  entreaties  nor  rewards  would  prevail  on  him  to  Aif-i. 
flep  with  him,  .>f.r-\f 

They  are  lively  only  in  parties  of  pleafure,  rejoicings,  en-* 
tertainments,  and  efpecially  dancing  ;  but  in  all  thefe  the  liquor 
muft  circulate  brifltly,  and  they  continue  drinking  till  they  are 
entirely  deprived  both  of  fcnfe  and  motion.  'uu 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  Indian  women,  whether  maids  ^■ 
tnarried,  and  Indian  young  men  before  they  are  of  an  age  to 
contrnft  matrimony,  are  never  guilty  of  this  vice  ;  it  being  s 
maxim  among  them,  that  dtunkennefs  is  the  privilege  of  noae 
but  mafters  of  families,  who,  when  they  are:  unable  to  take  care 
of  themfelves,  have  others  to  take  care  of  them,  .  ;;-;i?: 

The  women  prefent  the  chicha*  to  their  hufbands  in. c^lai* 
bafhes,  till  their  fpirits  are  raifed,  then  one  plays  on  a  pipe 
and  tabor,  while  others  dance.  Some  of  the  bed  voices  among 
the  Indian  women  fing  fongs  in  their  own  language^  and  thofe 
•vvho  do  not  dance,  fquat  down  in  the  ufual  pofture  till  it  comeff 
to  their  turn.  When  tired  with  intemperance,  they  all  lie 
down  together,  without  regarding  whether  they  be  near  th^ 
wife  of  another  or  their  own  filter  or  daughter.  Thefe  fefti- 
vities  fometimes  continue  three  or  four  days,  till  the  priell 
coming  among  them,  throvvs  away  all  the  chicha,  and  difperfcs 
the  Indians,  left  they  fhould  procure  more.  ,i,  , 

Their  funerals  are  likewife  folemnized  with  exccffiye  dnQi:<i 
ing.  The  houfe  is  filled  with  jugs  of  chichaj  for  the  folace 
of  the  mourners  and  other  vifttois  ;  the  latter  even  go  out  into" 
the  ftreets,  and  invite  all  of  their  nation  who  happen  to  pafs 
by,  to  come  in  and  drink  to  the  honour  of  the  deceaied*. 
This  ceremony  la fts  four  or  five  days,  and  fometimes  ^ more, 
ftrong  liquor  being  their  fupreme  enjoyment.  i.^^g  ba-tb^ 

The  Indians  in  the  audience  of  Quito  are  faid  to  a£l  Contrary 
to  all  other  nations  in  their  marriages,  for  they  never  mak^ 
choice  of  a  woman  who  has  not   been   firft   enjoyed  by  others, 

r. .'  b-jvi'iif   iiiti 

•  This  is  a  liquor  made  ffotn  fhalse  by  the  following  profc'cfs  :'Tfie  nfitzil?,- 
after  being  fcaksd  in  water  till  it  begins  to  grow,  is  dried  in  the  fun,  then  parth- ' 
cd  a  little,  and  at  laft  ground.  The  flour,  aftef  it  has  been  well  kneaded,'  i* 
put  with  water  into  a  large  vcffel,  and  left  for  two  or  three  days  to  ferment-  . 
Its  tafle  is  nearly  that  of  the  moft  indifferent  kind  of  cyder.  It  is  a  refrelhing, 
nourifbing,  and  aperitive  liquor,  bm  it  'vill  not  keep  .above  eight  day»  Vfithi>u8 
turning  four. 


OFFER  U.  i4'^ 

^htbh;  t'hey'  Coriftder'  as  a  •'certain  indication  o?  'li^r  '^erfonnl 
Iwraf^ions.  •  After  a  young  man  Has  made  choice' o'f'^a^'iVvnnsn, 
he  .(fks  lici-  oF  her  Father,  iind  Having  obtained  his  Conf6'rit,thcy 
begirt  to 'cohabit  together  as  iniun  and  wife,  atid  affift  th'e  fsither- 
in-laW  in  cultivacih^  the  land.  At  the  end  of  iHree''"'bf  four 
mcJnths,  and  frequently  of  a  year,  the  hiifband  leaves  !iii^  pride 
or  wife,  without  any  ceremony,  and  perhaps  cxpoftulatei  witli 
his  father-in-law  for  endeavouring  to  deceive  hini,  by  iriipofing 
upon  him  his  d3U2;hter,  whom  noHody  elfe  had  thought  wortny 
ftf  making  a  bedfellow;  But  if  no  difguit  arifes  in  the  mart  "on 
this  accouni,  or  any  other,  after  pafTing  three  or  four  months  in 
this  commerce,  which  they  call  amanarfe,  or  to  habituate  One's 
felFj  they  then  marry;  This  cuflom  is  flill  very  cottunon, 
though  the  whole  body  of  the  clergy  have  ufcd  all  their 
endeavours  to  put  a  flop  to  it.  Accordingly  they  always 
abfolve  them  of  that  firi  before  they  give  them  the  nuptial 
benediftion. 

It  has  beeil  obfervedj  that  the  dependehcies  of  the  juiifdic- 
tions  of  Quito  are  ieated  between  the  two  Cordilleras  of  the 
AndeSj  and  that  the  air  is  more  or  lefs  cold,  and  the  ground 
more  or  lefs  fterile,  according  to  the  height  of  the  mount;n'ns. 
Thefe  barreii  tracks  are  called  defarts  ;  for  though  all  the  Cor- 
dilleras are' dry,  foitie  are  much  more  fo  than  others,  and  the 
cbntinualfnow  and  frofls  render  fome  parts  of  them  incapable 
of  producing  a  (ingle  plant,  and  confecjuently  they  are  uninha- 
bitable by  man  or  beaft. 

S'ome  of  thefe  mountains,  whlcTi  appear  to  have  their  bafcs 
refting  'dri  diker'  molrhtains,' fife  to  a  niofh  aftouifliiiig  height, 
and  reaching  far  ab'oVe  tJie  clouds,  aiie  here,  although  in  the 
tnidlt  of  the  torrid  zonie,  covered  with  perpetual  fnow.  From 
experiments  rriade  with  a  barometer  on  the  mountain  of  Coto- 
paxi,  it  appealed  that  its  fummit  was  elevated  IJx  thoufand  two 
hundred  and  fifty-two  yards  above  the  fuiface  of  the  lea,  fomc- 
thing  above  three  geographical  miles,  which  greatlv  exceeds  the 
height  of  any  other  mountains  in  the  known  worlds 

,,'C6tbpaki  becatric  a  volcano  about  the  time  when  the  Spaniards 
firft  arrived  in  this  country.  A  new  eruption  happened  m 
i7,4'3,  which-jha.d  been  for  fome.  days   jJreceded  by  a.  C9nt!nual. 

^'i;^5^ijR5Ri^WWij^;.:?«ife>  ?%ft,'^V^l'>J.^  fl'Pei^iurf ].  .W3S  ipade  ni 

its  f^sn^At^  ^3*3 lib  three  others  near  the  middle  of  its  declivity  ; 
th^fe^artS,   whan  the  eruption  commenced,  were  buried   ijnder  • 
pi'odi'gibtfs-'inaflcs  of  fnbwl'lTle  ignited'  fubfta'iccs  U-'hich'   weio" 
cjc'ftea,  Dting'-riiingted -wilh  a  cbnlidciablc  quantity' of  fcibw.  au.d  , 

U  '    '     ' 


:46  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

ipc,  melting  amidH;  the  flames,  were  carried  down  with  fucri 
a.rnnzing  raj3idi|y,  that  the  plain  from  Callo  to  Latacungn  was 
'Q^Vcrflovv'^^^',an,d  ,^rr.t}T(e  k9ufe&, ,  with  ,their  wretched  irjhabita^iis, 
\ve,rc  fwept  a\va,y  in  one  general  and  inft.intaneous  deftruftionr 
The  riv.er  qf^  Latncunga  was  the  receptacle  of  this  dreadful 
jB,ODd5  till  bccopiing  fwoilen  above  its  banks,  tlie  torrent  rolled 
.over  tl^e  adjacent  country,  continuing  to  fweep  away  houfes  and 
cattle,  and  rendered  the  land  near  the  town  of  the  fame  nairje 
as  the  river,  one  vaft  lake.  Here,  however,  the  inhabitants  ha,tl 
iu^-icicnt  ,Avarning  to  favc  their  lives  by  flight,  and  retreated  t,o 
a  mqre  elevated  i pot  at  lome  diftance.  During  three  days  i\\p 
volcano  ejcfted  cinders,  while  torrents  of  lava  with  melted  ice 
and  fnow,  pained  down  the  fides  of  the  mountain.  The  erup- 
tion continued  for  feveral  days  longer,  accompanied  with  terrible 
roarings  of  the  wind,  rulhing  through  the  craters  which  had 
been  opened.  At  length  all  was  quiet,  and  neither  fmoke  nor 
fire  were  to  be  feen  ;  until  in  May,  1744,  the  flames  forced  a 
paflage  through  feveral  other  parts  on  the  fides  of  the  mountain  -, 
fo  that  in  clear  nights  the  flame,  being  reflcfted  by  the  tranfpa- 
rent  ice,  exhibited  a  \rery  grand  and  beautiful  illumination.  On 
the  t3th  of  November  following,  it  ejcftcd  fuch  prodigious 
quantities  of  fire  and  lava,  that  an  inundation,  ecfual  to  the  for- 
mer, foon  enfucd,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Latacunga 
for  fome  time  gave  themfclves  over  for  loft. 

'  The  moQ:  fouthern  mountains  of  the  Cordilleras  is  that' of 
Mccas  or  Sangay,  which  is  of  a  prodigious  height,  and  the  fjr 
great^eli  part  of  it  covered  with  fnow  ;  yet  from  its  fummit  ilfues 
a  cotitin-uarflre,  attended  with  explofions  nvhieh  are  pbinly 
heard  at  forty  leagues  diftanee.  The  country  adjacent  to  this 
volcano  is  entirely  barren,  beins^  covered  with  cinders  ejefted' 
from  its  mouth.  In  this  motifitain  riles  the  river  Sangay,  which 
being  joined  by  the  Upano,  forms  the  Payra,.  a  large  river  which 
difcharges  itfclf  into  the  Maranon. 

Pichincha.  though  famous  for  it?  great  height,  is  on-e  thoufand 
.two  hundrc<{  and  leventy-cight  yards  lower  than  the  perpendi- 
cular  heioht  of  Cotopaxi,  and  was  formerly  a  volcano,  but  the 
mouth  OF  crater  on  one  of  its  fides  is  now  covered  vrith  fiand  and 
calcined  matter,  fo  that  at  prefcnt  neither  fmoke  nor  fjve  ifi'ut^ 
from  it.  When  Don  George  Juan  ari'd  Don  Antonio  de  yUoa 
>v&rc  fluUioncd  on  it  for  the  purpofe  of  making  aftronomical  ob- 
Jervattons,  they  found  the  qold  Qn  the,  top  of  this  mountain  ex- 
itrbmelyjfltteinfe,  the  wind  v.iol!?ji-f>,  an^  t^cy  we.re,,j£rf  (JU^intly 
involved   in    In   thick  a   fog,  or,  in   otljer  words,  a'  cloud,    that 


OF     PER  U.  147 

ail  objctt  at  fix  or  eight  paces  diftance  waS 'ft:arce.ly^difcernib!e. 
The  air  grew  clear  by  the  clouds  moving  nearer  to  tlic  earth, 
and  on  all  fides  furrounding  the  mountain  to  a  vuft  diftance, 
feprefenting  the  fea  with  the  mountain  /landing  like  ^11  ifl^fid  in 
the  center.  When  this  happened,  they  heard  the  dreadful  ribife 
of  the  tempefts  that  difcharged  themfelves  on  Quito  and  the 
neighbouring  country.  They  faw  the  lightning  ill'uc  fi'drti  iho 
clouds,  and  heard  the  thunder  roll  far  beneath  thcni.  VvMu'ie 
thii  lower  parts  were  involved  in  tempclls  of  thunder  and  r^iin, 
they  enjoyed  a  delightful  ferenity  ;  the  wind  was  abated,  the 
iky  clear,  and  the  enlivening  rays  of  the  fun  moderated  the 
feyetity  of  the  cold.  But  when  the  clouds  role,  their  thicknefs 
rendered  refpiration  ciflicuk  ;  fnow  and  hail  fe]l  continually, 
and  the  wind  i-eturned  with  all  its  violence,  lo  that  it  was  im- 
ppfFible  entirely  to  overcome  the  fear  of  being,  logetlicr  with 
their  hut,  blown  down  the  precipice  on  whole  c^gii  it  was  built, 
or  pf-,bciiig  buried  in  it  by  the  conflant  accumulations  of  ice  and 
fp5»\Ye-j;  X^^'f  fears  were  likewife  incrcaled  by  the  fall  of  enor- 
mous fragments  of  rocks.  Though  the  fmallcft  crevice  vifible 
in  their  hut  was  (lopped,  the  wind  was  fo  piercing  that  it  pcne.- 
trated  through;  and  though  the  hut  was  imall,  crowded  >A/ith 
inhabitarrts,  and  had  feveral  lamps  conftantly  burning,  tire  cold 
was  fo  great,  that  each  individual  was  obliged  to  have  a  cliufiiig- 
difh  of  coals,  and  feveral  men  vi^ere  conftantly  employed  everv 
morning  to  remove  the  fnow  which  fell  in  the  night.  By  the 
feveritics  of  fuch  a  climate  their  feet  were  I  welled,  and  io  ten- 
der, that  walking  was  attended  with  extreme  p:\in,  then"  hands 
covered  with  chilblains,  and  their  lips  io  fweiled  and  chopt,  that 
-Cy^ry.^naotion  in  fpeaking  drew  blood, 

LIMA,  OR  LOS  REYES. 

The  next  divifion  of  Peru  is  the  audience  of  Lima,  v/lnch  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Quito  ;  on  the  eail,  by  tlse  Cordilleras 
of  the  Andes  ;  on  the  louth,  by  the  audience  of  Los  CUarcos  ; 
and  orl  the  weft,  by  the  Pacific  ocean  ;  it  being  about  leycn 
hundred  and  fevcnty  miles  in  length  from  north  to  louth,  but  of 
an  unequal  breadth. 

The  climate  and  foil  of  this  country  is  uncommonly  various.; 
in  lome  places  it  is  exceedingly  hot,  in  others  inlupportably 
cold,  and  in  the  city  of  Lima,  where  rain  never  falls,  it  ■  is 
ijtvlys' tbtnncratc.     The   featons  vary  within  the  couipafsi'o'f  a 

U  2    * 


i'-^8^  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

few  miles,  aiid  in  xertam  parts  oF  the  audience,  all  trie  vrci'ttt- 
tudes  of  weather  are  experienced  in  tvventj'-foiif  lioTiV^,^  ^It'iS 
cxtiemely.  remarkable  that  ho  rains  fall,  or  rivers  floV  oH ''thq 
fcai 'cdaftsj-.thpugh  the  country  is  refreihed  by  thick  fogs,  ifeftvd 
the.,hcat'aDatea_by  denfe  clouds  that  never  condenfc  into  fhdw;- 
jprs.  Ihis  phenornenon  has  drawn  tlie  attention  or  many 
naturalifts,  without  thejr  bcinrr  able  fa:ibfa6lorilv  to  account 
fjor^it,.   ■.-,,.-. 

jSprjf^g  begins, towards  the  clofe  of  the  year,-'t'h'at"ts,  abbtit'tti^ 
end    of  November   or   the  beginning   of    December,  when   the 
vapours  which  fill, the   atmofphere   during    the    Avinter   fubfide, 
and  thej-;  fun,  tpjthe  great  joy  of  the    inhabitants,    a gairi    appears, 
and'the.cduntry  then  begins  to  revive,  which,  during  the  abferice 
of  his  rays,  had  continued  in    a  flate  of  laiipour.      This    is    fuc- 
fecded' hy  furnmcr,   which,  though   hot   from   the  perpendiculir 
direfiiipn  of  the  fun's  ray?.,  is  far  from  being  infu^poftable  ;  the 
'^eatj'which,   inaecd,  \vou!d  otherwile   be   excefTive,  being   mo- 
derated by  the  fciuth    winds,   wjiich  always  bjow  at   (his    feafon, 
though  with  no  great  force.     Vyinter  begins  at  t3ic  latter    end  of 
'Tune  or  the  beginning  of  July,  and  continues  till   Novembe'f  or 
I).ecepiber,  when  the   foulh   wind  begins  to  blow    flrnnger,   and 
-  to  produce  a  certain  degree  of  cold,    not,   indeed,  e(^ual    to  that 
■^n  the  countries  where  the  ice  and  fnow  are  known,  but'iokeen 
that  the  light  dreilts  arc  laid  by,  apd   cloth  or  other  warm    fluffs 
■worr|.      During   the   winter  the  earth  is  covered   with  fo  thick 
a   foe,  as   totally    to    intercept   the    rays    of    the    lun  ;    and   the 
•wirids,    by    blowing  under   the  ihelter  of    the    fog,    retain    the 
particles  they  contrafi:ed  in  the  frozen  zone.      In  this  feafon  oiily 
:  ihe  vapours  diffolve   into  a  very  Imall  dew,  whiich  every   -Cvhere 
.jeouallv  moirrens  the  earth  ;  by  which  means  all  the  hills,   which 
;.  .during  the  other  parts  of  the  year  ojfer  nothing   to  the  fight   put 
rocks  and  waftcs,   are  clcthed  with  verdure  and   enamelled  with 
.  i),i)w,c».s  of  the  moft    beautiful  colours.     Tiicfe    dews  never  fall 
,;,j?'i'.-!liW^>)fl"^^''^'^''^^  '■^^  ^^  impin'r  the   roads  or  incfuimpde   th^^^trjr=. 
,,,  :Ve}ier  ^  .a  very   thin   ftuff  will  not  foon  be  wet  through,  ,p>ut^the 
>. -continuance    of,  the   niifts  during   the   whole    winter,,  without 
u,^i,ng  ,?j>chaled   by  the  fv;n,   fertilizes  e\'eiy  part  o|^the.c^u-nt)V. 
,  .   ,V,!L.ima  is.-as  free  from  tempeJT:s  as  from  rain,   fo  that  thofc  of.  the 
,  ,  i|5h^hU;araf,5  w,ho,  have  neither  .vihied  the  .m<">pntains  r^pr  jt!;a,vellcd 

5PljaK4  a,vf,tl^^j|efQ:|-e   extremely, jL^fi^L^,^  >y;1^i^^-v,  .th'cy  .,^i;ft  he^r^the 

JE  ^CTtCr,  )Or  fe^, the, latter.     But  jil^.is  .ypry  j-erriarkaljle,  tli^t  what 

-I  js^hciiq,.p:r!tirc!y   unknown,,  ^ll^oyld  be  fo  common    thirty  leagues 

to  the  caft  of  Lima  ;   it  being  no  farther^to  the  mountains,  where 


,.^^^^F  E  R  U.  J 49 

violent  rains  and  tempefts  of  thunder  and  lightning  are  as  fre- 
qiUQnt  as  at  Quito.  ,,,,,, 

^;rlBut  ti*<)>*g^^  t^^  c^Pjiit^  '}^  freed  from  the  terror  of  thefe 
tempefts,  it  is  fubjeft  to  what  is  much  more  dreadful.  Eartlir 
quakes  happen  here  fo  frequently,  that  the  inhabitants,  ar« 
under  continual  apprehenftojiS'  of  their  being,  from  th^ir  fud- 
dennets  and  violence,  buried  in  the  ruins  of  their  own  houfes^j 
yet  thefe  earthquakes,  though  fo  fudden,  have  their  prefage's^ 
or.e  of  the  principal  of  which  is  a  rumbling  noile  in  the  bowels 
^qf,  tbe  earth,  about  a  minute  before  the  fhccks  are  felt,  that 
faeois  to  pervade  all  the  adjacent  fubterraneous  part  ;  this  is  fol- 
lowed by  difrr.al  bowlings  of  the  dogs,  who  feem  to  prefage 
the  approaching  danger.  The  beafts  of  burden  pafTmg  the 
fhreets  flop,  and  b}'  a  natural  infhinft  ipread  open  their  legs,  the 
better  to  lecure  themfelves  from  falling.  On  thefe  portents 
the  terrified  inhabitants  fly  from  their  houfes  into  the  ftreets 
witli  luch  precipitation,  that  if  it  happens  in  the  night,  they 
appear  quite  naked  ;  the  urgenc^;^  of  the  danger  at  once  banifh- 
ing  all  fenfe  of  delicacy  or  fhame.  Thus  the  flreets  exhibit 
fuch  odd  and  fingular  figures  as  might  afford  matter  of  diverfion, 
were  it  polTible  to  be  diverted  in  fo  terrible  a  moment.  This 
fudden  concourle  is  accompanied  with  the  cries  of  ichildren 
waking  out  of  their  fleep,  blended  with  the  lamentations  of 
the  women,  whofe  agonifing  prayers  to  the  faints  increafe 
the  common  fear  and  confufion.  The  men  are  alfo  too  much 
affected  to  refrain  from  giving  vent  to  their  terror,  fo  that 
the  whole  city  exhibits  a  dreadful  fcene  of  conllernation  and 
horror. 

The  earthquakes  that  have   happened  at   the   capital  are  very 
finmerous.      The  firfl   fince   the  eftablifliment    of  the  Spaniards 
was  in  1582,   buflUhe  damage   was  much  lefs  confiderable  than  in 
fome  of  the  fucceeding.       Six  years  after,  Lima  was  again  vifited 
Vy  another  earthquake,  fo  dreadful  that  it  is  ftill  folemnly  comme- 
'  inorated  every  year.   In  i6og  another  happened,  which  overturn- 
f?d  many  houfes.     On  the  2'7th  of  ^November,    1630,   fuch' prodi- 
gious damage   was    done   in    the   city  by  an    earthquake,  that  in 
aicknowledgement  of  its   not   having   been    entirely   demolifhed, 
?[    feftival    on    that    day    is    annually   celebrated.       Twenty-four 
years   after,  on    the   3d  of  Novem.ber,  the   mofl   flatcly  edifices 
"\n  the  city,   and  a   great    number  of  houles,   were   deflroyed   by 
'  'ah  earthquake,   but  the  inhabitants  retiring,   few  of  them  perifh- 
'   ed.'' Another  dreadful    one  happened  in  1678;  but   one   of  the 
'"jTiofh  terrible  was   on   the    ?.8ih  of  Oftober,    ibS'ji     It   began   at 
'"■|bvJr   in  the   morning,  and  defbroyed   many  of  the  fineft  public 


tvrr",'. 


J50  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

iyuildings  and  houfcs,  in    which   a   great  number  cf  the   inhabit 
tants    penlhed  ;   but  this   was  little   more  than  a  prthjde  to  what 
foll6w<id,  foir'tWo   hours    after "fH^'''ni6t;l<;    returned  with    luch 
Jrtpetuouitoricuflions,    that  all    w<1s   laid  in  ruins,   and  the  inha. 
bitints  felt   thcmfelvcs   h<ippy    in    being    only    ipc/6.i,tors   of  the 
general  devaftation,   by   having    iaved    their  lives,  though    with 
the  lols  of  all  their  property.      I>uring    tJiis    lecond  fluick,  the 
iea   retiring    conftderably,  and    ther>   returning   in   mountainous 
Avaves,    entirely    overwhelmed    Callao,    which    is  ai   five   mtlci 
dilbnce  from  Lima,   and  all  the  adjacent 'country,   together  with 
the   miierable    inhabitants.       From    that    lime,     i\x    earthquakes 
have   happened    at    Lima   previous   to    that    of   1746.      This   laft 
was  on  the  28th  of  Oftober,  at  half  an  hour  after  ten  at    night, 
when    the  concufliops    began    with    fuch  violence,   that  in    liale 
more    than    three    minutes,     the    grcateft    part,    if    not    all    the 
buildings  in  the  city,  were  deftroyed,'  burying  under  their  ruins 
thofe  inhabitants  who  had    not   made    lulHcient   hafte   inta  the 
ilreets   and    fquarcs,   tlie   only  places   of  fafeiy.      At    length   the 
horrid    effefts    of  the    fird    fhocjc    ccafed,     but    the    trantjuil^ty 
was  of  fliort   duration,  the    concu (lions   iwiftly  lucceedijig  each 
other.     The  fort  of  Callao   alfo   funk    into    ruins;  but    what    it 
luffered  front   the  earthquake  in  its  building  was  inconliderable^ 
•when  compared    to   the    dreadful    cataihophe    which    followed; 
for  the  lea,  as  is   ulual   on    luch    occalions,  receding  to  a    con- 
fiderabie    diftance,     returned    in    mountainous    waves,    foaming 
with  tiic  violence   of  the   agitation,  and    luddcnly  buried  Caiho 
and    the    neighbouring  country    in    its    flood.      This,  however, 
was  nut  entirely   efFcfied    by    the   hrll  iwcU    of  the  waves,  for 
the    fea   retiring  farther,   returned   with  ftill  greater  impctuofity, 
and   covered  both  the   walls  and    other   buildings   of  the   place  j 
io  that  what  even    had   eicaped   the  firft  inundltion,   was  totally 
overwhelmed  by  thofe  luccceding   mountainous  waves..     Twen- 
ty-three   fhips    and    veirds,   great    and   luuil,   were  then  m  the 
harbour,  nineteen    of  which   were    lunk,    and   the    other    loui-, 
among  which  was  a  frigate  najned   Si.   Fermin,   were  carried    by 
the  force  cf  the  waves  to  a  coniiderabie  diftuuce  up  the  country^ 
This    terrible    inundation     and    earthquake    extended    to    other 
parts  on   the    coall,  and   fevcral   towns  underwent  the  latuc  fate 
as  the  city  of  Lima,  where  the  number  of  perfons  who  pcrifh(*d 
within  two   days  after  it  began,  ttnounted,  according  to  the   bo^ 
dies    found,  to  one  thouland  three  hundred,  befides  the  maimed 
and     wounded,,   mairy    of    whom    lived    only    a    ihoi-t'' timp-isiei 
great  torture,     '■     ■-  ■    ,  ::i  .  :  *    £)!!■ 


,  ,T|ie  country  of  Lima  enjoys  great  fertilky^.i  producing  all 
Jtinds  of  grain,  and  a  prodigious  variety  of  fruit.  Here  in-. 
duftry  and  art  fupply  that  moifture  which  the  clouds  withhold* 
The;  ai;veient  Incas  of  Peru  caufed  fiftmll  canals,  tp-.te^,, formed, 
in  order  to  conduft  the  waters  of  the  ri  v'crs  to  ^vcriyrjpairt  of 
the  country.  The  Spaniards,  finding  thefe  ufcful  works,  ex- 
ecuted to  their  hands,  had  only  to  keep  them  in  order,  and  by 
thefe  are  vs^^tered  fpacious  Selds  of  barley,  large  meadows,  plar* 
tations,  vineyards  and  gardens,  all  yielding  uncommon  plenty. 
Lima  differs  from  Quito,  where  the  fruits  of  the  earth  have  no 
eI«termitTed  feafon,  for  here  the  harvcfl  is  gathered  in,  and  the 
trees  drop  their  leaves  m  the  proper  feafon. 

Although  the  fummer  here  is  hot,  yet  venomous  creatures 
are  unknown  ;  and  the  fame  may  be  faid  of  the  territory  calltci 
Vallcs,  though  here  are  fome  ports,  as  Turnbez  and  Piur;?, 
where  the  heat  is  almofl  as  great  as  that  of  Guayaquil.  This 
fingubrity  can  therefore  proceed  from  no  othex"  caule  than  the 
natural  drought  of  tlie  climate. 

The  audience  of  Lima  is  tiivided  into  four  biflioprics,  TruKr 
illo,  Guamanga^  Cufco  and  Arequipn.  The  dioeefe  of  Truxillo 
lies  to  the  north  of  the  archicpifcopal  dioeefe  of  Lima,  and 
like  all  the  others  is  divided  into  feveral  jurifdi£lions.  The 
city  of  Truxillo  is  feated  in  S'^^  6' fouth  latitude,  in  a  pleafant 
fituation,  though  in  a  fandy  foil. 

In  the  dioeefe  of  Guamanga  is  a  rich  q.uickfdver  mine,  from 
which  the  inhabitants  of  a  neighbouring  town  procure  their" 
whole  fubfifte nee  ;  the  coldnefs  of  the  air  in  that  place  check- 
ing the  growth  of  all  kinds  of  grain  and  fruit,  fo  that  they 
are  obliged  to  purchafe  them^  from  their  neighbours.  The 
^uicfefilver  mines  wrought  here  fupply  all  the  filver  mines 
in  Peru  with  that  necelTary  mineral,  and  notwitliilanding  the 
prodigious  quantities  already  extrafted,  no  diminution  is  per- 
ceived. 

Cufco,  which  gives  name  to  another  dioeefe,  is  the  moS; 
ancient  city  in  Peru,  being  of  the  fame  date  with  the  empire  of 
the  Incas,  and  was  founded  by  thsm  as  the  capital  of  the 
empire.  On  the  mountain  contiguous  to  the  north  part  of  the 
eity  ai-«i the  ruins  of  a  famous  foft  built  by  the  Incas,  whence  it 
appears,  that  iheir  defign  was  to  incloie  the  whole  mountain 
with  a  prodigious  wall  of  fuck  conflruftion  as  to  render  its 
aicent  ablblutcly  impra£licable  ^o  an  enemy^  in  order  to  pievent 
all  approach  to  the  city.  This  v/all  was  entirely  of  freeftone, 
2nd    ilrongly   built,   fome  of  the   ftones   being   of  a   prodigious 


152  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

magnitude.       The     city     Cufco     is    nearly     equal     to     that     of 

Lima. 

.    Jn  this   Wifhopric  are  feveral   mines  of  gold  and    filvcr   (liai 

are  extremely  rich. 

The  fourth  diocefe  of  the  audience  of  Lima  is  Arequipa 
Avhich  contains  the  city  of  the  fame  name,  one  of  the  largclt 
in  all  Peru  :  and  it  is  delightfully  feated  in  a  plain,  the  houfcs 
are  well  built  of  ftone,  and  generally  lofty,  commodious,  finely 
decorated  on  the  out-fide,  and  neatly  furniihcd  within.  Th<; 
temperature  of  the  air  is  extremely  agree^tble,  the  cold  bein* 
never  exCelTive,  nor  the  heat  troublefom",  fo  that  the  fields 
are  always  clothed  with  verdure,  and  enamelled  with  flowers,- 
as  in  a  perpetual  fpring.  But  thefe  advantages  are  allayed  by 
its  being  frequently  expofed  to  dreadful  earthquakes,  for  by 
ttiefe  convulfions  of  Nature  it  has  been  four  timet,  laid  in  ruins. 
The  city  is,  however,  very  populous,  and  among  its  inhabi- 
tants are  many  noble  families. 

In  this  bifhopric  are  feveral  gold  and  filver  mines,  and  in 
fome  parts  are  large  vineyards,  from  which  confiderable  quan- 
tities of  wine  and  brandy  are  made.  Among  the  other  produc- 
tions is  Guinea  pepper,  in  which  the  jurifdiftion  of  Africa  in 
th'is  dlocere  carries  on  a  very  advantageous  trade,  the  annual 
produce  of  thefe  plantations  bringing  in  no  lefs  than  fixty 
thoufand  dollars  per  annum.  The  pods  of  this  pepper  are 
about  a  (Quarter  of  a  yard  in  length,  and  when  gathered  »rc 
dried  in  the  fun  and  packed  up  in  bags  of  rufhes,  each  bag 
containing  an  aroba  or  a  quarter  of  a  hundred  weight,  and  thus 
they  are  exported  to  all  parts.  Other  places  of  this  jurifdiftibh'i 
are  famous  for  vaft  quantities  of  large  and  excellent  olives,  faj-'^ 
exceeding  the  fineflt  produced  in  Europe,  they  being  nefcrly 
tkc  fizeof  a  hen's  egg. 

L  O  S    C  H  A  R  C  O  S. 

The  audience  of  Charcos,  the  laft  divifton    of  Peru,   is   ec^^ual ' 
iii   extent  to  that  of  Lima,  but    many    of  its   parts   are   not    )i6[ 
well  inhabited,  fome  being  full  of  vaft  deferts  and  impenctrabtd  ' 
fore fbs, 'while  others  have  extenftve  plains   intercepted  by  the  ' 
ftupendous  height  of  the  Cordilleras  :  the   country    is   inhabited!^ 
only  in  fuchpafrts  as  are  free  ffbrtl'  thofe  inconveniences,   *Tt  ir  " 
bounded    on    the    north   by  the  "dlocefc   of  Cufco,  and  reaches 
frfiithward  to    Buenos  Ayres  ;  oti   the  eaft  it  extends  to  Biafil ; 
aifd'on  the  weft,  it   reaches  to  the   Pacific  ocean,  particuhMy'"a'tP''' 
AliicaVni;  ■•••The  remainder  6f  the  province  bordvr?  on  tlie'kiAi^-^' 
dom  of  Chili, 


0  F    P  E  R  U,  553 

I'liis  2U(Jience  is  divided  into  the  archbliKoprlc  of  Plata  and 
five  biflioprics.      We  fhall  befiin  with  the  former.. 

The  famous  mountain  of  Potofi  is  known  all  oy.ef.„tbe.. com- 
mercial world  for  the  immenfe  quantity  of  filvsrf  it  ,J;as  pro- 
duced. The  difcovery  of  this  amazing  treaifure  liappenfji  at 
the  commencenierit  of  the  year  1545,  by  a  mere  accidehtj-wljich 
we  fhall  mention  afterwards.  At  a  (mall  diHance  from  it  ale 
the  hot  medicinal  baths,   called   Don    Die?o,   whither    Ibme   re- 

fort  for  health,   and  others  for  diverfion. 

•i'c.-j';  r  '    .  '-      ■ 

At  the  tjjne  when  the    fiift   conqucfls  were  madej   when  erai-. 

grations  were  mod  frequent,  the  country  of  the  Incas  had  a. 
rnuch  greater  reputation  for  riches  than.  New-Spain,  and,  in 
reality,  for  a  long  time  much  more  conhderable  treafures  were 
brought  away  from  it.  The  defue  of  partaking  of  them  mufl 
heceffarily  draw  thither,  as  was  really  the  cafe,  a  greater  number 
of  Caftilians.  Though  almoft  all  of  them  went  over  thither 
w.ith  the  hope  of  returning  to  their  country  to  enjoy  the  fortune 
they  might  acquire,  yet  the  majority  fettled  in  the  colony. 
They  were  induced  to  this  by  the  foftnefs  of  the  fclimate,  the. 
falubritv  of  the  air,  and  the  goodnefs  of  the  provifions.  Mexico, 
prefented  not  the  fame  advantages,  and  did  not  give  tlwm  rea- 
lon  to  e.xpeft  fo  much  independence  as  a  land  infinitely  more 
tqmot?,  frpjio^  thC;  .mother  fcountry. 

Cufco  ^ttrafted  the  conquerors  in  rrtultitudes  f  they  found 
this  capital  built  on  a  ground  that  was  very  irregular,  and  di- 
vided into  as  many  quarters  as  there  were  provinces  in  the  em- 
pire, Each  of  the  inhabitants  might  follow  the  ufages  of  his 
native  coutitiy,  but  every  body  was  obliged  to  conform  to  the 
wprlh'ip  eftablifhed  by  the  founder  of  the  monarchy.  There 
was  no  edifice  that  had  any  grandeur,  elegance  or  convenience, 
becaufe  the  people  were  ignoraftt  of  the  firft  elements  of  archi- 
tecture. The  magnificence  of  what  they  called  the  "  palace 
of  the  fovereign,  of  the  princes  of  the  blood,  anci  of  ,the  great 
mep  pf^his)  empife,"  confifted  in  the  profufforx  ^pf,  (h,9,7tietalsi 
that  were  lavished  in  decorating  them.  The  temple  of  the  Sun 
was  di(iinguiihed  above  all  other  ediffces  5  its  walls  were  in- 
crufied  or  il\eathed  with  gold  and  filver,  ornamented  with  divert 
figures,  and  loaded  with  the  idols  of  all  the  nations  \yhpi»  the 
Incas  had  enlightened  and  fubdued. 

,^^_i|^\y;^s^:n.Qjtjj»,  fplicitude  for  their  ojS'n  .^f.?_fe^tation  which 
occupied  the  Sp3nia,rds  at  firll,  they  had  no  foonej-  pillaged  the 
immenfe. riches  which. liad  been  amaffed  at  Cufco  for  four   cen- 

X 


>5.4.  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION" 

tyrics^  than  they    went  in  great    numbers    in    1534,  under    the 
order  of  Scbjillian  de  Benalcazar,   to  undertake    the    deftruflipji 
of  Quito,      The  other  towns  and  boroughs  of  the  empire  wcj-(e. 
oVer-run  vvitb  the  fasne  fpirit   of  rapine  ;  and    the  citizens   and 
the  temples  were  plundered  in  all  parts. 

Thofe  <if;  t?»e  conquerors,  who  did  not  take  up  their  refi<, 
dence  in  the  fetllcmcnts  which  they  found  already  formed,  biiiU, 
t9,vvns  on  the  fea-coafts,  where  before  there  were  none  ;  for  the 
fl.crility  of  the  foil  had  not  permitted  the  Peruvians  to  multiply 
rn-uch  there,  and  they  had  not  been  induced  to  remoye  tliithcr 
irom,the  extremity  of  their  country,  becaufe  they  i^iled  very 
little*  Paiia,  Truxillo,  Callao,  Pilca  and  Atica,  were  the  roads 
which  the  Spaniards  deemed  mc.1  convenient  for  the  commu- 
nication they  intended  to  cRiiblifh  among  themiclves  and  wjtj:^-. 
the  mother  country.  The  different  pofitions  of  theie  new  cities 
determined  the  degree  of  their  profperity. 

Thofe  which  were  afterwards  built  in  the  inland  parts  of  thc 
country  were  erefted  in  regions  which  prcfented  a  fertile  foil^^. 
copious  harvefts,  excellent  paftures,  a  mild  and  falubrious  cli-^ , 
mate,  and  all  th-e  conveniences  of  life.  Thefe  places,  which 
had  hitherto  been  fo  well  cultivated  by  a  numerous  and  flOurifh- 
ing  people,  were  now  totally  diffegarded.  Very  loon  they  ex- 
hibited only  a  deplorable  picture  of  a  horrid  defert  :  and  this 
wildnefs  muft  have  been  more  melancholy  and  hideous  than  the 
dreary  afpcft  of  the  earfli  before  the  origin  of  focicties.  The 
traveller,  who  was  led  by  accident  or  curiofity  info  thefe  defo- 
late  plains,  could  not  forbear  abhorring  the  barbarous  and 
bloody  atftJiors  of  luch  devaftations,  ^while  he  reflef^ed  that ^  it 
Xvas  not  owing  even  to  the  Cruel  ilttifions  of  glory,  and  to  the  , 
fanaticifm  of  conqueft,  but  to  the  ftupid  and  abjeft  defire  of 
gold,  that  they  had  lacrificed  fo  much  more  real  tieafure,  and 
fo  numerous  a  population. 

This  infatiable  thirft  of  gold,  which  neither  tended  to  fiib-y 
fiflence,  fafety  nor  policy,  was  the  only  motive  for  enablifliing,^ 
new  fettlements,  fome  of  which  have  been  kept  up,^  whije  f§y 'j 
veral  have  decayed,  and  others  liave  beeA  forrfted  in  their  (teady 
The  fate  of  them  all  has  correfponded  with  the  diicoverv,  pro" 
grefs  or  declcnfion  of  the  mines  to  which  they  were  fubor- 
dinate.  "    '    "       > 

rewer  errors  have  been  commuted  in  tne  means  of   pfocuring  , 
proV-ifions.      The  natives  had  hitherto  lived  hardly  qn  any  things 
biit  maii'e,  fill  its  and  pulfe,   for  which  they  had   ufed'  no  otHe|r 
feafohirig  except  fait  and  pimento.      Their   liquors,   which  were 
made  from  different   roots,  wei"eniore  diverfified  ;  of  thefe  the 


OF     PERU.  I'^g 

cMi^h^'A^^as  the  mofl  ufual ;  but  the  conquerors  \\^ere  not  fatisfie<^ 
eiY?ii6r  witii  the  liquors  or  with  the  food  of  the  people  they  had 
fubdued.  They  imported  vines  from  the  old  world,  which  fooa 
multiplied  fufficiently  in  the  funds  of  the'  coafts  at  lea,  Piici, 
Nafca,  Moquequa,  and  Truxillo,  to  furnifh  the  colony  wiih  the 
wine  and  brandy  it  wanted.  Olives  fucceeded  ftill  belter,'  and 
yielded  a  great  abundance  of  oil,  which  w<is  much  fiiperior  to 
that  of  the  mother  country.  Other  fruits  were  tritnfpbnted 
vj(?l3f''the  lime  fuccefs.  Sug:ir  luccccds  fo  wei!,  that  none  of 
airiy  ot'her  growth  can  be  compared  to  that  vvhich  is  cultivated 
in  thofe  parts,  where  it  never  rains.  In  t!ie  inlind  country 
wheat  and  barley  were  fown  ;  and  at  length  all  th.c  European 
quadrupeds  were  foon  found  grazing  at  the  foot  of  the  niouri- 
tains. 

This  was  a  confiderable  flap,  but  there  ftill  remained  mucli 
more  to  be  done.  After  they  had  provided  for  a  better  and  a 
greater  choice  of  fubfiftence,  the  next  care  of  the  Spaniards 
was  to  have  a  drefs  more  commodious  and  more  agreeable  than 
that  of  the  Peruvians.  Thefe  were,  however,  better  clothed 
t^aii'any  other  American  nation.  They  owed  this  fuperiority 
to  the  advantage  which  they  alone  poffelTcd,  of  having  the  lama. 
and  pacos,  domeftic  animals,  which  lerved  tliem  for  this  ufe. 

jj^fter.  the  conqueft,  all  the  Indians  were  obliged  to  wear 
clothes.  As  the  oppreffion  under  which  they  groaned  did  not 
allow  them  to  exercife  their  former  induflry,  they  contented 
themfelves  v^ith  the  coarfer  cloths  of  Europe,  for  which  they 
were  made  to  pay  an  exorbitant  price.  When  the  gold  and 
filver  which  had  efcaped  the  rapacity  of  the  conquerors  were 
exhaufled,  they  thought  of  re-eftabli fining  their  national  manu- 
factures. Thefe  were  fome  time  after  prohibited,  on  account 
of  the  deficiency  which  they  occahoncd  in  the  exports  of  the 
mother  country.  The  imp.offibility  which  the  Peruvians  found 
of  purchahng  foreign  (lufl's,  and  paying  their  t.txes,  occafioned 
permillion  to  be  given  at  the  end  of  ten  years  for  their  re-eftab- 
lifhment.  They  have  not  been  difcontinucd  fince  that  time, 
and  have  been  brought  to  as  great  a  degree  of  perfcftion  as  it 
w^s  poflTible  they  could  be  under  a  continual  tyranny. 

"With  the  wool  of  the  vicuna,  a  fpecies  of  wild  pacos,  they 
make,  at  Cufco  and  its  territory,  (lockings,  handkerchiefs  and 
icirfs,"  Thefe  mnnufa6lures  would  have  been  multiplied,  if  the 
fpirit  or  dellruftion   had    not,  fallen   or^    animals  as  well    as  on 

men.      1  be  lame  wool,   mixed  with  that  ,oI   ;ae  mceo  imported 

i;r.'   :-:!  ■.'       1 :    ".  I        .ojfiiiiTj'tq  b.fiE  Jli.'l  7q3'3!f-:'  ^ft^iiu.-^';/. 

:  io3i*3f3w  f.tooi  iri'Sisiilib  moil  .-ibsm 


156  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

thither  from  Europe,  which  have  exceedingly  degeneratcdj 
icrvcs  for  carpets,  and  makes  alfo  tolerably  fine  cloth.  Fleeces 
fe'/^  inferior  quaHty^afe'erh)>lV)y^3nn  ferges,  druggets,  and  in  all 
kinds  of  coiife  'ftufts.  -^''^-  -''^•-  ■  ■'■'■^'r 

*  The  manufatlurcs  fubfcrviefit'ttf  luxury  are  eftablifhed-'St 
Arequipa,  Ciifto  arid  Lima.  In  thefe  three  towns  is  made  9 
prodigious  i-itiihbcr  of  gold  toys  and  plate,  for  the  ufe  of  pri- 
vate perfons,  and  alio  for  the  churches.  All  theie  manufac- 
tures are  biit  cbarlely  ^yrought,  and  mixed  with  a  great  deal  of 
fropper.  We  feldom  diCcovcr  more  tafte  in  their  gold  and  filver 
laces  and  embroideries,  which  their  manufaftures  alio  produce. 
This  is  not  altogether  the  cafe  in  regard  to  their  lace,  which, 
\vhen  mixed  with  that  of  Europe,  looks  very  beautiful.  This 
laft  manufafture  is  commonly  in  the  hands  of  the  nuns,  who 
employ  iu  it  the  Peruvian  girls,  and  the  young  meihecs  of  the 
tGvvns^  who  for  the  moll  part,  before  marriage,  pais  feme  years 
'Irf  the '"'(Convent. 

Other  hands  are  employed  in  painting  and  gilding  leather  for 
|-boms,   in  making  with  wood   and  ivory  pieces  of  inlaid    work 
and  fculptlire,  and  in  drawing  figures  on  the  marble  that  is  found 
'•at  Cucuca,  or  on  linen  imported  from  Europe.      Thefe'different 
"Works,   which  are  almoft  all  manufaftured   at   Cufco,    ferve   for 
"  prnamonts' for  houfes,  palaces  and  temples  ;  the  drawing  of  them 
is  not   bad,  but   the   colours  are    neither  cxaft    nor   permanent. 
If  the  Indians,   who   invent    nothing,   but   are  excellent  imita- 
|br^,   had  able  muflers  and  excellent  models,  they  would  at'  ieaft 
'  jni^ike  good  copyifts.      At    the   dole    of  the    lalt    century,    fotne 
v/or|i:s''oT"a  PeVuyian    painter,    nam'ed  ^Michael    de   St.    Jacques, 
■•  ivcre  fe^due'ht  to  Rome,   and  the'corinoilifeurs  di{coVercd'-'iiiaTks 
'  "of  genius  in    them.  '•^'  ^''''''    ''"^-       '    •'    ■    ■'"'    ''^-■'■■■•■' 

flitttipLiKt^fevivians    wcfd'lj'fi^atquainted   MrilH  ^a^lii^f'tlfey 
Knew  the  ute  of' ^uld  and    ftlvcr,  for   thev   employed' them   in 
diucrent   kind's  of  ornaments.      Independent   of  what    the   tor- 
rents and  accident  procured   them    of  thcfc  metals,   fome  «'iW?he$ 
had    been    opened   of  little    depih.       The  Spaniard's  '  hiiVe"'iiot 
tiariimitted  t'o  us  the   manner  in  wliich    iheie    rich    produ6fions 
•were  drawn  from  the  bofom   of  the  earth.      Theirpiide,  which 
^h^  deprived  us '  of  fo    much    ulcful    knowitd^^,' undoLibtefily 
liiacle  tfiem  itViak.    thai,  in    the    inventions    bf  a  ^^eV)plc"^''i^I%!n 
"'^*^|ficy  called'bal'barouij   thei'fi  was    nothing  that  was  \'vbJffi^t*(?be 
■'''Recorded.  •, '^^  ^-^^^  "^^^- ■-'-•'•   ''^'^^"^'"     '  :    -^^"'^^.ijo 

""■  ^'''hiS''i\kA0y$'i^'m''r^^H^r  %"  whi.t^lV"tKe'"MliSfH.ns 
woi"i;ea'''tlVelt^' ininesi  did  riot'  exten'cl  (is  ('Ke  in'ines'tfieirifclves. 
The    conquerors  opened   them   en  all  fides.      At    firll    the  gold 


0  F     P  E  R  U,  t 


51 


mines  tempted  the  avarice  of  the  greater  number.  Fatal  ex- 
perience diicouraged  thofe  whom  paffion  had  not  blinded  :  they 
|;leirly  faw,  that,  for  fome  enormous  fortunes  raifed  in  this 
manner,  great  numbers  who  had  only  moderate  fortunes,  were 
totally  ruined.  Thefe  jnines  funk  into  fuch  difcredit,  that,  in 
order  to  prevent  them  from  being  abandoned,  the  government 
was  obliged  to  talj.c  the  twentieth  part  of  their  produce,  inftead 
of  the  fifth,   which  it  at  firft  received. 

The  mines  of  filver  were  more  common,  more  equal,  and 
richer.  They  even  produced  filver  of  a  ftngular  fpecies,  rarely 
found  elTewhere.  Tow.ards  the  fca-coaft  great  lumps  of  this 
metal  are  found  in  the  fands. 

There  are  a  great  number  of  other  mines  which  are  infinitely 
more  important,  and  are  found  in  the  rocks  and  on  the  moun- 
tains. Several  of  them  gave  falfe  hopes  ;  fuch,.  in  particular^ 
was  that  of  Ucuntaya,  difcovered  in  i'7i3:  this  was  only  ari 
incruftation  of  almoft  malTy  filver,  which  at  firfl  yielded  feveral 
millions,   but  was  foon  exhaufled. 

Others  v/hich  were  deeper  have  been  alike  deferted  :  their 
produce,  though  equal  to  what  it  v/as  originally,  was  not  fufH- 
icient  to  fupport  the  expenfe  of  working  them,  which  aug- 
mented every  day.  The  mines  of  Quito,  Cufco  and  Are- 
duipa,  have  experienced  that  revolution  which  awaits  many  of 
the  reft.  ,  > 

There  are  greater  numbers  of  very  rich  mines  which  the 
waters  have  invaded.  The  difpofition  of  the  ground,  which 
from  the  fummit  of  the  Cordilleras  goes  continually  fhelving 
to  the  South  fea,  inuft  necelfarily  render  thefe  events  more 
common  at  Peru  than  in  other  places.  This  inconvenience, 
which  with  greater  care  and  fkill  might  often  have  bpen  pre- 
vented or  diininifhed,   has  been  in  fome  inftapces  remedied. 

Joleph  S.ilcedo,  about  the  year  1660,  had  difcovered,  not 
far  from  the  town  of  Puna,  the  mine  of  Laycacota  :  it  was  fo 
rich,  that  they  often  cut  the  filver  with  a  chizel.  Profperity 
had,  io  elevated  the  niind  of  the  proprietor,  that  he  permitted 
all  the  Spaniards,  who  came  to  feek  their  fortune  in  this  part 
;  .^jf.^the ;  p,ew  world,  to  work  lome  days  on  their  own  account, 
•^^ij^hPHt  weighing  or  ts^king  any  account  of  the  prefents  he 
ipa,ae  them.  This  generoiuy  drew  around  him  an  infinite 
number  of  people,  whole  avidity  made  them  quarrel  with  each 
other,  and  the  h^vc  of  money  made  them  take  up  arms  and  fall 
upon  one  another  ;  and  their  beneuiftor,  who  had  neglefted  no 
expedient    to   prevea;    and   exting'aifh  their  fanguinary  conten- 


158  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

tif*ns  was  hanged  as  being  the  author  of  them.  Whilft  he  wns 
in  prilon,  the  water  got  pofTeirioni  of  his  mine,  Superftition 
foon  made  it  imagined,  that  this  was  a  punifhment  fflr  'the 
horrid  aft  they  perpetrated  againft  him.  This  idea  of  Divine 
vengeance  wsS' revered  for  a  long  time;  but  at  lafl,  in  1740, 
Diego  de  Bachna  aflTociated  with  other  opulent  people  to  avert ^ 
the  fpringb  which  had  deluged  fo  much  trealurc.  Tlje  labours 
which  this  difhcult  undertaking  required  v/ere  not  finiflied  till 
i'j54.  The  mine  yields  as  much  now  as  it  did  at  firft.  But 
niiiies  ilill  richer  than  this  have  been  dilcovered :  fuch,  for 
example,  is  that  of  Potofi,  which  was  found  in  the  fame  coun- 
try where  the  Incas  worked  that  of  Porco. 

An  Indian,  nalned  Hualpa,  in  1545,  purfuing  feme  deer,  in 
order  to  climb  certain  fteep  rocks  laid  hold  of  a  bufli,  the  roots 
of  which  looferjed  from  the  earth,  and  brought  to  view  an 
ingot  of  filvcr.  I'hc  Indian  had  recourie  to  it  for  his  own' 
ufi^  and  never  failed  to  return  to  his  trealure  every  time  that 
his  wants  or  his  dcfues  folicitcd  him  to  it.  The  change  that 
happened  in  his  fortune  was  remarked  by  one  of  his  country- 
men, and  he  difcovercd  to  him  the  fecret.  The  two  friends 
could  not  keep  thqir  council  and  enjoy  their  good  fortune  ; 
they  quarrelled ;  on  which  the  indilcreet  confident  difco- 
vercd the  whole  to  his  mafter,  Villaroell,  a  Spaniard  who  was 
fettled  in  the  neighbourhood.  Upon  this  the  mine  became 
known,  and  was  worked,  and  a  great  number  of  them  were 
found  in  its  vicinity;  the  principal  of  which  are  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  mountain,  and  their  diieftion  is  from 
north  to  foulh.  The  mofl  intelligent  people  of  Peru  have 
obferved,  that  this  is  in  general  the  direction  of  the  richell 
mines. 

The    fame    of  wliat  was    pafiing  at  Potofi  foon  fpread   abroad, 
and    there    v/as   quickly    built  at    the    foot    of  the    mountaui    a 
town    confifting    of  hxty    thoufand    Indians    and    ten  •thoA'Pan'd'  . 
Spaniards.      The    flerility  of  the    foil  did  not  preventifs'being 
immediately    peopled.        Corn,    fruit,'  flocks,   American    JlulFs, 
European    luxuries,  arrived    there  from  every  quarter.      Iridilf-    ' 
try,  which   every   where  follows  the  current  money/  could  hot'*' 
Icarch  for  it    with  fo   much    fuccels    as    at    its   iource.      It   evi- 
dently   appeared,    that    in    1738    thefe  mines  produced  a'nnvJ'alt^P' 
near  nine  iiundrcd  and  feventy-eight  thoufand  pounds, '  wit'lVoWP 
reckoning   the   lilvcr    which    was   not  rcglftcred,   an<{  vC-hat!  h^d 
been    carried   eft  by    fraud.      From    that    time   tiie    pioduce  hcfs 
beeji  io  much  diminifhcd,   that  no  more  than  one  C!n;'vt!v  ps!l  iS^ 
the, coin. which  was  for:Tierlv  fli-uck  is  now  made.  -'^   ^"3"* 


OF     PERU.  :59 

.  At  the  mines  of  Potofi,  and  all  the  mines  of  South- America, 
the  Spaniards,  in  purifying  their  gold  and  ftlver,  ufe  mercury, 
with  which  they  are  fupplied  from  Guanca  Vfeiieii  ■'•  The 
common  opinion  is,  that  this  mine  was'  difcovered  iii  1564  : 
the  trade  of  mercury  was  thrn  ftill  free  ;  it  became  an  excl'iifive 
triadebin  157*  :  at  this  period  all  the  mines  of  mercury  wet6 
fhutfiamd  that  of  Guan<:a  Velica  aloue  was  worked,  .  the " 
property  of  which  the  king  referved  to  himfelf.  It  is  not" 
found  to  diminiHi.  This  mine  is  dug  in  a  prodigioufly  large' 
mountain,  hxty  leagues  from  Lima.  In  its  profound  abyfs  ar« 
feen  Ilieets,  fquares,  and  a  chapel,  where  the  myfterieg  of 
religion  on  all  fedivals  are  celebratod  :  millions  of  flambeaux 
are  continually  kept  to  enlighten  it. 

Private  people,  at  their  own  expenfe,  work  the  mine  of 
G>y3nca  Velica.  They  are  obliged  tp  deliver  to  government^ 
at,  a'l  ftip.ulated  price,  all  the  mercury  they  extraft  from  it. 
As  foon  as  they  have  procured  the  quari>fity  which  the  demands 
cf.,;ODe.^year  require,  the  work  is  fulpended.  Part  of  the  mer- 
ci^^yifia^fold  on  the  fpot,  and  the  reft  is  fent  to  the  royal  maga- 
zines throughout  all  Peru,  from  whence  it  is  delivered  out  at 
the  lame  price  it  is  fold  in  Mexico.  This  arrangement,  which 
has  occaftoned  many  of  the  mines  to  drop,  and  prevented 
others  from  being  opened,  is  inexcufable  in  the  Spanifh  fyftem ; 
tii-e  court  of  Madrid,  in  this  refpeft,  merits  the  fame  re- 
proaches as  a  miniftry  in  other  countries  Would  incur,  that 
would  be  blind  enough  to  lay  a  duty  on  the  implements  of 
agriculture. 

The  mine  of  Guanca  Velica  generally  affefts  thofe  who  work 
in-it  with  Convulfions :  this  and  the  other  mines,  which  are 
not  Icfs  unhealthy,  are  all  woiked  by  the  Peruvians.  Thefe 
iinfortunate  viftims  of  an  inia-tiable  avarice  are  crowded  all 
together  and  plunged  naked  into  thefe  abyffes,  the  greateft 
paj-t  of  which  are  deep,  and  all  exceffively  cold.  Tyranny 
ha§  invented  this  refinement  in  cruelty,  to  render  it  impoflfible 
for  any  thing  to  efcape  its  leftlefs  vigilance.  If  there  are  any 
wretches  who  long  furvtve  fuch  barbarity,  it  is  the  ufe  of 
t^V'oa  thfit  preferves  them. 

in  .  the  Cordilleras,  near  the  city  of  Paz,  is  a  mountain  of 
remarkable  height,  called  IMimani,  which  doubtlefs  contains 
imrnenfe  riches  ;  for  a  crag  of  it  being  forne  yezts  ago  fevered 
by>-;f^;  f|t.ail"i  of  lightning,  and  falling  on  a  neighbouring  moun- 
tain, fuch  a  quantity  of  gold  was  found  in  the  fragments,  that 
for  fome  time  that  metal  was  fold  at  Paz  for  eight  pieces  of 
eight    per    ounce  j  but   its   fummit    being    perpetuaJLy    covered 


i6a'  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION  &c.- 

with  ice  and    fnow,  no   mine   has   been   opened   in  the  moun- 
tain. 

The  city  of  La  Paz  is  of  a  middling  fiie,  and  from  its 
fituation  among  the  breaches  of  the  Cordilleras,  the  ground  ort 
which  it  ftands  is  unequal,  and  it  is  alio  furrounded  by  moun- 
tains. When  the  river  Titacaca  is  increafed,  either  by  the 
rains,  or  the  melting  of  the  fnow  on  the  mountains,  its  current 
forces  along  large  maffes  of  rocks  with  fome  grains  of  gold, 
which  are  found  after  the  flood  has  fubflded.  Hence  fome  idea 
may  be  formed  of  the  riches  inclofed  in  the  bowels  of  thefe 
mountains,  a  remarkable  proof  of  which  appeared  in  the  year 
1730,  when  an  Indian,  wafiiing  his  feet  in  the  river,  difco- 
yered  fo  large  a  lump  of  gold,  that  the  Marquis  de  Callle 
Fuerte  gave  twelve  thoufand  pieces  of  eight  for  it,  and  fent.tt 
a^  a^j^ef<^4tc^.the  King  of  Spain, 


■?.'ivy'<.ii)i3  .^n'j  1...  . 


vonl  rfnw 
H  Hguoirif 
')  .«n£ibnl 


Siii  lo  sbfl   ;  -3)  ,9ntt  ft 

sldnboijl  ilaJsam  n»lIifcitO 


(     i6i     ) 


HISTORY  OF 


C       H       I       L       L 


V-^HILI  is  fituated  laetween  ^.^'^  and  45**  fouth  latitude,  and 
65**  and  85®  weft  longitude  ;  its  length  is  one  thouland  two 
hundred  and  fixty  miles,  and  its  greatefl:  haeadth  five  hundred 
and  eighty  :  it  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Peru  ;  on  the  eaft^ 
by  Paragua  or  La  Plata  ;  on  the  louthj  by  Patagonia  ;  and  on  the 
weftj  by  the  Pacific  oceani  It  lies  on  both  fides  of  the  Andes; 
Chili  Proper  lies  on  the  weft^  and  Cuyo  or  Cutio,  on  the  eaft. 
The  principal  towns  in  the  former  are  St.  Jago  and  Baldivia  ;  in 
the  latter,   St.  John  de  Frontiera. 

The  firft  attempt  of  the  Spaniards  upon  this  country  was  made 
by  Almagro  in  the  year  1535,  after  he  and  Pizaro  had  completed 
the  conqueft  of  Peru.  He  fet  out  on  his  expedition  to  Chili 
with  a  confiderable  body  of  Spaniards  and  auxiliary  Indians. 
For  two  hundred  leagues  he  was  well  accommodated  with  every 
neceffary  by  the  Indians,  who  had  been  fubjefts  of  the  Emperors 
of  Peru  ;  but  r%ching  fhe  barren  country  of  Charcos,  his  troops 
became  difconten^ted  through  the  hardfhips  they  fuffered,  which 
determined  Almagro  to  climb  the  mOiintains  culled  Cordilleras, 
in  order  to  get  the  fooner  into  Chili  ;  being  ignorant  of  the  in- 
valuable mines  of  Potofi,  contained  in  the  province  of  Charcos, 
where  he  then  was.  At  that  time  the  Cordilleras  were  covered 
with  fnow,  the  depth  of  which  obliged  him  to  dig  his  way 
through  it.  The  cold  made  fuch  an  impreffion  on  his  naked 
Indians,  that  it  is  computed  no  lefs  than  ten  ihouftnd  of  them 
perilhed  on  theie  dieadful  mountains,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
of  the  Spaniards  fliaring  the  fame  fate,  while  many  of  the  fur- 
vivors  loft  their  fingers  and  toes  through  the  excefs  of  cold.  At 
laft,  after  encountering  incredible  difficulties,  Almagro  reached 
a  fine,  temperate,  and  fertile  plain  on  the  oppofite  fide  of  the 
Cordilleras,  where  he  was  received  with  the  greateft  kindnefs 
by  the  natives.     Thefe   poor   favages,  taking  the   Spaniards   for 

Y 


i62  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

deputies  of  iheir  god  Virachoca,  immediately  colleftcd  for  them 
an  offering  of  gold  and  filver,  worth  two  hundred  and  ninety 
thoufand  ducats  ;  and  foon  after  brought  a  prefcnt  to  Almagro 
worth  three  hundred  thoufand  more.  Thefe  offerings  only  de- 
termined him  to  conquer  the  whole  country  as  foon  as  poflible.'"' 
The  Indians,  among  whom  he  now  was,  had  acknowledged  the 
authority  of  the  Peruvian  Incas,  or  Emperors,  and  confcquently 
gave  Almagro  no  trouble.  He  therefore  marched  immediately 
againft  tho(e  who  had  never  been  conquered  by  the  Peruvians^, 
and  inhabited  the  fouthern  parts  of  Chili,  Thefe  favages  fought 
with  great  rr.folution,  and  difputed  every  inch  of  ground;  but 
in  five  months  lime  the  Spaniards  had  made  fuch  progrcls,  that 
they  muft  infallibly  have  reduced  the  whole  province  in  a  very 
little  time,  h^d  not  Almagro  returned  to  Peru,  in  confequencc' 
of  a  commiffion  fent  him  from  Spain. 

In  i'54o,   Pizaro   having  overcome  and  put  Almagro   to  death, 
fent  into  Chili,   Baldivia  or  Valdivia,  who  had  learned  the  rudi- 
fnents  of  war  in  Italy,  and  was  reckoned  one  of  the  beft.  officers 
in  the  Spanifh  feivice.      As  he  penetrated    fouthward,  however, 
he  met  v.'iih   much   oppofition  ;  the   confederated    caziques   fre- 
quently gave  hxTt  battle,   and  difplayed  great  courage  and  reiolu- 
tion,  but  could  noir  prevent  him  from   penetrating   to  the  valley 
of  Mafiocho,   v/hch    he   found  incredibly    fertile  and  populous. 
Here  he  founded  the  city  of  St.  Jago,  and  finding  gold  mines  in 
the  neighbourli'ood,   forced  the  Indians  to  work  in  them,   at  the 
fame  time  building  a  caftle  for  the  fafcty   and   proteftion  of   his 
new  cofony.     The  aativcs,  eXafperated  at   this  flavery,   immedi- 
ately took  up  arms,  attacked  the  fort,  and  though  defeated    and 
repulfed,  fet  fire"  to  the  out  v/orks,  which  contained  all  the  pro- 
viitons  of  the  Sjjanlarjls.      Nor  were  they   dilcouraged    by    thik 
and  many  other  defeats,  but  flill  continued  to  carry    on  the  war 
with  vigour.      At  laft,  Valdivia  having  overcome    them  in  rhany" ' 
battles,  forced  the  inhabitants  of  the  vale  to  fubmit ;   upbn  v/hich  " 
he    immedi-ritcly    fct   them    to    work   in   the    mines   of  Quild^ta. 
'I'his  indignity  ofiFered  to  their   countrymen    redoubled    the  filry  ' 
ef  thole  who   remiiined    at    liberty.     Their   utmoft  efforts,  hov^-" 
ever,   were  as  yet  unable   to    iKip   Valdivia's   progrefs.- '  J^Vfti^ 
erolfed   tire   larg5   rivers   Nf-aulle   and    Hata,  he  traverfed  a  vaft 
tra6l  of  country  and  founded  the   city  of  La  Conception    on  the 
Soutli  fea'  C(ii1l;-  'hfe    ei'cttcd  fortrcfiKes  ih  fevdfal  ^arb   bF   ifr<»(*' 
C(iumiy,   in  order  to  keep  the  natives' iri  aWti,  and  builr  thd'cVt'y' 
caitcd  Imperial,  about  forty    leagues   to   the    fouthward  of  Con- 
ception.    1  he  Spaniflr  writers  lay,,  tl'.al  tiie  neighbouring^  valley 


OF     C  H  1  L  1.  1^3 

contained  eighty  tlioufand  inhabitants  of  a  peaceable  difpofjiion, 
and  who  were  even  fo  tame  as  to  fuffer  Valdivia  to  pjircel  out 
their  lands  anaong  his  followers,  wliile  they  themlelves  remained 
in  a  ftate  of  inaftivity.  About  fixteen  leagues  to  the  eaftward 
of  Imperial,  the  Spanifii  general  laid  the  foundations  of  the  city 
of  Villa  Rica,  fo  called  on  account  of  the  ricli  gold  mines  he 
found  there.  But  his  ambition  and  avarice  had  now  involved 
him  in  difficulties  from  which  he  could  never  be  extricated  ;  he 
had  extended  his  conqucfts  beyond  what  his  flrength  was  capa- 
ble of  maintaining.  The  Chilcfians  were  ftill  as  defirous  as  ever 
of  recovering  their  liberties.  The  horles,  fire-arms,  and  armour 
of  the  Spaniards,  indeed,  appeared  dreadful  to  them  ;  but 
thoughts  of  endlels  flavery  were  ftill  more  fo.  In  the  courfe 
of  the  war  they  had  difcovercd  that  the  Spaniards  were  vulnera- 
ble and  mortal  men  like  themfclves  ;  they  hoped,  therefore,  by 
dint  of  fuperiority  in  numbers,  to  be  able  to  expel  the  tyranni- 
cal ufurpers.  Had  all  the  nations  joined  in  this  relulution,  the 
Spaniards  had  certainly  been  exterminated  ;  but  lome  of  them 
wei-e  of  a  pacific  difpofition,  while  oihers  confidered  fervitude 
as  the  greateft  of  all  poflible  calamities.  Of  this  laft  opinion 
were  the  Aracceans,  the  moft  intrepid  people  of  Chili,  and  who 
had  given  Valdivia  the  greatefl  trouble.  They  all  rofc  to  a  man, 
and  chofe  Capaulican,  a  renowned  hero  among  them,  for  their 
leader,  Valdivia,  however,  received  notice  of  their  revolt 
fooncr  than  they  intended  he  fliould,  and  returned  with  all 
expedition  to  the  vale  of  Araccea  ;  but  before  he  arrived,  four- 
teen thoufand  of  the  Chilefians  were  tliere  affembled  under  the 
conduft  of  Capaulican  ;  he  attacked  them  with  his  cavalry,  and 
forced  them  to  retreat  into  the  woods,  but  could  not  obtain  a 
complete  viftory,  as  they  kept  continually  lallying  out  and 
harafling  his  men.  At  laft  Capaulican  having  oblerved,  that 
fighting  with  fuch  a  number  of  undifciplined  troops,  only  ferved 
to  contribute  to  the  defeat  and  confuiion  of  the  who'e,  divided 
his  forces  into  bodies  of  one  thoufand  each,  Thele  he  direfted 
to  attack  the  enemy  by  turns,  and  though  he  did  not  expeft 
that  a  fingle  thoufand  would  put  them  to  flight,  he  direfted 
them  to  make  as  long  a  {land  as  they  could,  when  they  were  to 
be  relieved  and  Supported  by  another  body,  and  thus  the  Spa- 
niards would  be  at  laft  wearied  out  and  overcome.  Tlie  event 
fully  anfwered  his  expectations.  The  Chilefians  maintained  a 
fight  for  leven  or  eight  hours,  till  the  Spaniards,  grovvincr  faiut 
for  want  of  refrefhmcnt.  retired  precipitately.,  ,, Valdiyw  prdtred. 

Y  V 


^^i^.  .^GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

^'■^itsi  zs  11.'.  ■ 

them  to  poffefs  a  pafs  at   fome  diftancf_,fVoin,  tlic^^eSI,  W''ftc5p 

the  purfuit  ;  bat  this  defign  being   difcovered  to  tbe  Cti'ilefians 

by  his  page,  who    was   a    native  of  that  country,  the  Spaniards 

xvere  furroupded  on  all    fides,  and  cut  in  pieces  by  the  Indians. 

The  general  was   taken  and  put   to   death ;  I'ome   fay   with   tKc 

"torture    uftiaHy  inflifted   by    thjofe   favages   on   their  prifoners  ; 

other?,   that  he   had  melted  gold  poured   down   his  throat  ;  but 

all  agree,  that  the  Indians  made   flutes  and  other  inftruments  of 

his  bones,  andpreferved  his  flcull    as  a   monument  of  their  v^r. 

tory,  which  they  celebrated    by  an    annual    feftival.     After  this 

viftory,  the  Chilefians  had  another  engagement   with  their  erie- 

^•^inics,    in     which    alfo    they    proved    viftorious,     defeating' tlie 

-^Spaniards   with    the  lofs  of  near  three  thoufand  men  j  an 3  upon 

ythis  they  bent  their   whole  force  againfl  the  colonics.     The  city 

Pfbf  Conception    being  abandoned  by    the    Spaniards,  was  tafern 

5<^and  deftroyed  ;  but  the  Indians  were  forced  to  raife  the  fiege'of 

■    Imperial,  and  their  progrefs   was   at  laft  flopped    by  Garcia   de 

'  Mendc^a,   who  defeated  Capaulican,  took  him  prifoner,  and  put 

,' him  to  death.     No  defeats,  however,  could  difpirit   the   Chile- 

abfians  ;  they   continued   the  war  for  fifty  years,  and    to  this  day 

•"'"yhey  remain  unconqucred,  and  give  the    Spaniards  more  trouble 

\'' than  any  other  American    nation.     Their   mofl    irreconcileable 

'''^nemfes'a|feV'he  inhabitants   of  Araccea  and  Tucapel",  thbfe  to 

•'■  (he  fduth  of  the  river  Bobio,  or  whofc  country  extends  towards 

'^  Yhe  Cordilleras.     The  manners  of  thefe  people  greatly  referable 

-  -^'{fi'{$ft:-6f^NclftH- America,  but  fpem  ta  have  a  mpfe   watlike  dif- 

■"'pofftioii';     It  is  a  conftant  rule  with  the  Chilefians  never  to  fue 

'"'for  peace.  'The  Spaniards  are  obliged  not  only  to  make  the'firft 

overtures,  'but:   to    purchafe   it   by    prelcnts.     They  have  at  lalt 

been  obliged    to  abandon  all  thoughts  of  extending  their  con- 

quefts,'  atyd  reduced  to  cover  their  frontiers  by  ercfting  forts  at 

proper  diftances. 

7  he  Spanifh  colonics  in  Chili  are  difperfed  on  the  borders  of 
the  Sbuth  fea.  They  are  parted  from  Peru  by  a  defert  eighty 
leagues  in  breadth,  and  bounded  by  the  ifland  of  Chiloc,  at  the 
extremity  ne>it  the  fkraits  of  Magellan.  There  aie  no  fettle- 
merits'  eft 'the  coafl  except  thole  cf  Baldivi^,.;Conception  ij[land, 
Valparaifo,  and  Goquimbo,  or  La  Serena,  which  are  all  fea 
ports.  In  the  inland  country  is.  St.  Jago,  the  capital  of  the 
colony'.'  '  There  is  fio  culture  nor*  habitation  at  any  diftance,  from 
thefe  town^.  The'  buildings' in  the  whole  province  are.  low, 
made  of  unburnt  brick,  and  jnoflly  thatched.  Thi.^  praftjce  is 
ebferved  on  account  of  the   fjequent  earthquakes,  and  is  pro- 


.         0  F    C  H  I  L  I,  165 

oi^rly.  adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  climate,  as  well  as  tothe  m- 
.aoipce.'of  the  inhabitants/'^^"*^^'  ^mcii  i^  {{^  fi-2')3Bo<r  of  madt 
r  The  climate  of  Chili  is  brie"  df' the^  moftNvhol^fcMnte-  in  tine 
whole  world.  The  vicinity  of  the  Cordilleras  gives  it  fuch4i 
dilightful  temperature  as  could  riot  btherwHe  "fee  lexpeftcd  in 
that  latitude.  Though  gold  mines  are  foufid  in  it,  their  richnefs 
has  been  too  much  extolled ;  their  produce  never  exceeds  two 
hundred  and  eighteen  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
per  ann.  The  foil  is  prodigioufly  fertile.  All  the  European 
fruits  have  improved  in  that  happy  climate.  The  wine  would 
be  excellent  if  nature  were  porperly  alTifted  by  art ;  and  the 
corn  harveft  is  reckoned  a  bad  one  when  it  does  not  yield  a 
hurt^red  fold.  With  all  thcfe  advantages,  Chili  has  no  direft 
intercouffe  with  Spain  ;  their  trade  is  confined  to  Peru,  Para- 
guay, and  the  favages  on  their  frontiers.  With  thefe  lafh  they 
,  exchange  their  lels  valuable  commodities  for  oxen,  horfes,  and 
^j  their  own  children,  whom  they  are  ready  to  part  with  for 
,  ^he  moft  trifling  things.  This  province  fupplies  Peru  with 
great  plenty  of  hides,  dried  fruit,  copper,  fait  meat,  horfes, 
hemp,  lard,  wheat,  and  gold ;  in  exchange  it  receives  tobacco, 
fugar,  cocoa,  earthen  ware,  woollen  cloth,  linen,  hats,  made 
at  Quito,  and  every  article  of  luxury  brought  from  Europe. 
The  Ihips  fent  from  Callao  on  this  traffic  were  formerly 
,  bound  to  Conception  bay,  but  now  come  to  Valparaifo.  The 
,comrnerce  between  this  province  and  Paraguay  is  carried  on  by 
land,  though  it  is  a  journey  of  three  hundred  leagues,  forty  of 
which  lie  through  the  fnows  and  precipices  of  the  Cordilleras  ; 
but  if  it  was  carried  on  by  fea,  they  muft  either  pafs  the 
ilraits  of  Magellan,  or  double  cape  Horn,  which  the  Spaniards 
always  avoid  as  much  as  poffible.  To  Paraguay  are  fent  (ome 
woollen  fluffs  called  ponchos,  which  are  ufed  for  cloaks; 
alfo  wines,  brandy,  oil,  and  chiefly  gold  ;  in  return  they,  re- 
ceive wax,  a  kind  of  tallow  fit  to  make  foap,  European  gQods, 
and  negroes. 

Chili  is  governed  by  a  chief,  who  is  abfolute  in  all  civil, 
political,  and  military  affairs,  and  is  alfo  independent  of  the 
viceroy.  The  latter  has  no  authority  except  when  a  governor 
dies,  in  which  cafe  he  may  appoint  one  in  his  room  for  a  time, 
tin  Spain  names  a  fuccelfor.  If  on  fome  oqcafiq^  ,tlic  viceroy 
liW'iriifei'fefWd  in 'the  government  of  Chili,; .it,, was  , when  he 
has  been  either  authoriled  by  a  particular  trufl  repofed  in  him 
by  the  court,  or  by  the  deference  paid  to  the  eminence  of 
]iis  o&cii  or'^'*f(e?ft''}4^  Jiisbeen  afttiated  hy,jh^?  P>yn^9n3i,bition 


i66  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION,  &c. 

to  extend  his  authority.*  In  the  whole  province  of  Chili 
there  are  not  twenty  thoufand  white  men,  and  not  more  than 
fixty  thoufand  negroes,  or  Indians,  able  to  bear  arms.  The 
military  eftablifhment  amounted  formerly  to  two  thoufand 
men  ;  but  the  maintaining  of  them  being  found  too  expenftve, 
they  were  reduced  to  ftve  hundred  at  the  beginning  of  this 
century. 

♦  With  refpeft  to  the  power  of  the  governor  of  Chili,  it  is  doubtful  whether 
the  above  is  qorre-ft,  as  fome  writers  afTert  that  he  is  fubordinate  to  the  viceroy 
of  Peru,  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  government,  to  the  finances,  and  to  war, 
but  independent  of  him  as  chief  adminiftrator  of  jufticc,  and  prefidcnt  of  the 
royal  Audience.  Eleven  inferior  officers,  dillributed  in  the  province,  are 
charged,  under  his  orders,  with  the  details  of  adminiftration. 


(     >67    ) 


HISTORY  O.F 


PARAGUAY,  OR  LA  PLATA. 


P. 


AR.AGUAY  is  fituated  between  12*^  and  37°  fouth  latitude, 
and  50"  and  75"  weft  longitude  ;  its  length  is  one  thoufand 
five  hundred  miles,  and  its  breadth  one  thoufand.  It  is  bound- 
ed on  the  north,  by  Amazonia  ;  on  the  eaft,  by  Brafil  ;  on  the 
fouthj  by  Patagonia  ;  and  on  the  weft,  by  Chili  and  Peru. 

It  is  divided  into  fix  provinces,  viz.  Paraguay,  Parana, 
SuAiRA,  Uragua,  Tucuman,  and  Rio  de  la  Plata. 

Tills  country,  befides  an  infinite  number  of  fmall  rivers,  is 
watered  by  three  principal  ones,  the  Paragua,  Uragua,  and. 
Parana,  which,  united  near  the  fea,  form  the  famous  Rio  de 
la  Plata,  or  Plate  river,  and  which  annually  overflow  their 
banks  ;  and  on  their  recefs,  leave  them  enriched  with  a  flime, 
that  produces  the  greateft  plenty  of  whatever  is  committed 
to  it,* 

This  vaft  traft  is  far  from  being  wholly  fubdued  or  planted 
by   the    Spaniards.     There    are    many    parts   in  a   great   degree 


*  The  grand  river  La  Plata  dcferves  a  particular  defcription.  A  Modenefe 
Jefuit,  by  the  name  of  P.  Cattanco,  who  failed  up  this  river,  fpeaks  in  the 
follov^ring  language  concerning  it ;  "  While  I  refided  in  Europe,  and  read  in 
books  of  hiftory  or  geography  that  the  river  de  la  Plata  was  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  in  breadth,  I  confidered  it  as  an  exaggeration,  becaufe  in  this  hemif- 
phere  we  have  no  example  of  fuch  vaft.  rivers.  When  I  approached  its  mouth, 
1  had  the  moil  vehement  defire  to  aicertain  the  breadth  with  my  own  eyes,  and 
I  bava  found  the  matter  to  be  exaftly  as  it  was  reprefented.  This  I  deduce  par- 
ticulai'lytfrom  one  circumftance  when  we  took  our  departure  from  Monte  Viedoj 
a  fort  fvtuated  more  than  one  hundred  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and 
where  its  breadth  is  confiacrably  diminiflied,  we  failed  a  complete  day  before 
■We  diftov'ered  the  land  on  the  oppofite  fide  of  the  river  ;  and  when  we  were  in 
the  middle  of  the  channel,  we  could  not  difcover  land  on  either  fide,  and  faw 
nothing  but  the  Iky  and  water,  as  if  we  had  been  in  fome  great  ocean.  Indeed, 
we  fhould  have  taken  it  to  be  fea,  if  the  frefh  water  of  the  river,  wliich  was 
turbid  like  the  Pt>,   hud  not  fitisued  us  that  it  was  a  river." 


1^8  ^     GENERAL  JyJESCRIPtlON 

unknown  to  them,  or  to  any  other  people  in  Europe.  TTie 
principal  province  of  which  wc  have  any  knowledge,  is  that 
which  is  called  Rio  de  la  Plata,  towards  the  mouth  of  the 
above-mentioned  rivers.  This  province  with  all  the  adjacent 
parts,  is  one  continued  plain  for  feveral  hundred  miles,  ex- 
tremely fertile,  and  produces  cotton  in  great  quantities  ;  tobacj 
CO,  and  the  valuable  herb  called  paraguay,  with  a  variety  of 
fruits,  and  the  prodigious  rich  paftures,  in  which  are  bred  fuch 
herds  of  cattle,  that  it  is  faid  the  hides  of  the  beafts  arc  all 
that  is  properly  bought,  the  carcafe  being  in  a  manner  given  in- 
to the  bargain.  A  horfe  fome  time  ago  might  be  bought  for  a 
dollar,  and  the  ufual  price  of  a  bullock,  chofen  out  of  a  herd  of 
two  or  three  hundred,  was  only  four  rails.  But  contrary  to 
the  general  nature  of  America,  this  country  is  deftitute  of 
woods.  The  air  is  remarkable  fweet  and  ferene,  and  the  Waters 
of  La  Plata  are  equally  pure  and  wholefome. 

The  Spaniards  firft  difcovered  this  country  by  failing  up  the 
river  La  Plata  in  1515,  and  founded  the  town  of  Buenos  Ayres, 
fo  called  on  account  of  the  excellence  of  the  air,  on  the  fouth 
fide  of  the  river,  fifty  leagues  within  its  mouth,  where  it  is  fe- 
vcn  leagues  broad.  This  is  one  of  the  mod  confiderable  towns  in 
South-America,  the  capital  of  this  country,  and  the  only  place 
of  traffic  to  the  fouth  of  Brafil.  Here  we  meet  with  the  mer- 
chants of  Europe  and  Peru,  but  no  regular  fleet  comes  hither 
as  to  the  other  parts  of  South- America ;  two,  or.at  moft  three 
regifter  fhips  make  the  whole  of  their  regular  intercourfe  with 
Europe  ;  their  returns  are  very  valuable,  confiding  chiefly  of 
the  gold  and  filver  of  Chili  and  Peru,  fugar  and  hides.  Thofe 
who  have  carried  on  a  contraband  trade  to  this  city,  have  found, 
it  more  advantageous  than  any  other.  The  benefit  of  this  con- 
traband is  now  wholly  in  the  hands  of  the  Portuguefe,  who 
keep  magazines  Cor  that  purpofe  in  fuch  parts  of^Braiil  taa- lie 
near  this  country.  muIuO  zid  o)  h^(;ti 

x.  Buenos  Ayres  is  regularly  built,  its  ftreets  are  wide,  the 
houfes  are  exirecnely  low,  and  each  of  them  is  accommodated 
with  a  garden.  The  public  and  private  buildings  which,  fixly 
years  ago,  were  all  made  of  earth,  are  of  more  folid  and  com- 
modious conftruftlon,  fince  the  natives  have  learned  the  art 
©f  making  brick  and  lime.  The  number  of  inhabitants  'is 
about  thirty  thoufand.  One  fide  of  the  town  is  defended  by  a 
fortrefs  with  a  garrifon  of  fix  or  feven  hundred  men  ;  the  fhips 
get  to  it  by  failing  up  a  river  that  wants  depth,  is  full  of  iflatids, 
Ihoals,  and  rocks,  and  where  ftorms  are  more  frequent  and 
inore  di-«adful  tlitan  on   the  ocean.     It   is  ncccfliry  to  anchor 


OF  P  A'RAQVA  Y,  VH  I.A  FIAT  A. 

«vlry  'tijght'^oft  tkefprtt  where  they  come  to,  and  on  the  moft 
rrioderate  ddys  a  pilot  muft  go  to  found  the  way, for  the  ft^ip  ; 
after  having  furmounted  thefe  difficulties,  ti>e  Svip§ Sir?,  obliged, 
■»t  the  diftance  of  three  leagues  from  the  town^  to  put  their 
goods  oh  board  fomc  light  vefTel.  and  to  go  to  lefu,  and  to 
irik-f.'.rtlleir  cargoes  at  incanado  de  Birragan,  fituated  feven 
':fcj^'^ight  leagues  below;  "'•    ■-:•"-'    ;-- 

-.5«-Taragua    fends    annually    into   the   kingdom  o(  $m'*ir:^fm^ 
■'fe'cftie  th»ufand   five  hundred,   or  two  thoufand  mules.     They 
'ffavel   over  dreary   deferts    for  the   diftance    of  eight   or    nine 
hundred    leagues.      What   is  not  man   capable  of  doing,  when 
ncceffuy,    refolution,    and    avarice    are    united  ?    neither    deep 
''jlivd    miry   fvvatrlps,    nor   furnmits   of  lofty    mountains    covcretl 
'-Witb-'ei^rnal    fnow,   can   bar    his    progrefs.      The    province   of 
■  Tucuman  furnilhcs  annually,  fixteen  or  eighteen, thoufand  oxen, 
and  four  or  five  thoufand  horfes,  brought  forth  and  reared  upon 
'ib^AWwiitei-ritibry;     Paragua  fends  feveral  articles  of  commerce 
•.tS'Sp^xti^'hut  they  are  all  brought  from   neiglibouring   diftrifts. 
The  only  article  it  furniflies  from  its  own  territory  is  hides,  all 
- '*i*fefe  are  fent  to  Europe  from  Buenos  Ayres. 
■    We  cannot  quit  this  country  without  mentioning  that  extra- 
ordinary   fpeciis  of  commonwealth   which  the    Jeluits    erefted 
in  the  interior  parts,   and  concerning  which  thele  crafty  priefls 

•  htive  endeavoured  to  keep,  ftrangers  in  the  dark. 

•■?j>lAbout  tthe  middle  of  the  kft  century,  thole  fathers  repre- 
fented  to  the  court  of  Spain,  that  the  want  of  fuccels  in  their 
miffions  was  owing  to  the  fcandal  which  the   immorality  of  tlie 

-Spaniards  never  failed  to  give,  and  to.  the  hatred  Avhich  their 
ftlfolent  behaviour  caufed  in  the  Indians.  They  infrnuated,^  tliPt 
were  it  not  for  thofe  obOincles,   the  empire   of  the  golpel  might, 

.  by  their   labours,   have    been    extended  into  the  moll  unknown 

.' ^arts  of  America  }  and  that  all  thofe  count* ies  might  be  fub- 
dued  to  his  Catholic  majefty's  obedience,   without  expenfe,   and 

•  witabat  force.  This  remonfhrance  met  with .  iuccefs, ,  the 
;  fphere  of  their  labours  was  maiked  out,  and  the  governois  of 
vthd  ^gjtljfttent'tprovinces  had  orders  not  to  interfere,  not  to 
-.  fii^ffer  la-ny    Spaniards    to  enter   into   this  pale,   v/ithcu4;  liceflccs 

fjom  ■  the    fathers  ;   they,   on   their    part,   agreed  to  pay,  a  certain 

capitation  taSf,  in  proportion  to  their  flock,  and  to  fend  «.  G€rta,n 

nr^r^^jTjto.  the  king's   worjts  whenever  the)'  fliall  be  demanded, 

.  ;-^9fl  ilhe^  ipifTions   fhould    become  ,  populous   enough   to  fuppiy 

,jl>^Wr  1-  ["vA  ?.i  ,,r;jrph  ?.:nnvf  nd}  nvij  s  qu  giiiiifi'l  yd  U  o)  SX^ 


f7<!>  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION,  &c. 

gathering  together  about  fifty  wandering  families,  whom  they 
perfuacied  to  lettle,  and  they  united  them  into  a  little  townfhip. 
This  was  the  flight  foundation  upon  which  they  built  a 
fiiperftrufture  which  amazed  the  world,  and  added  much  to 
tlieir  power,  at  the  fame  time  that  it  occafioned  much  envy 
a<j-iinfl  their  fociety.  For  when  they  had  made  this  beginning, 
they  laboured  with  fuch  indefatigable  pains,  and  fuch  mafterly 
policy,  that  by  degrees  they  molllFlcd  the  minds  of  the  mofl 
favagc  nations,  fixed  the  mofh  rambling,  and  fubdued  thofe  to 
their  government  who  hud  long  difdaincd  to  fubmit  to  the  arms 
of  the  Spaniards  and  Portuguefe.  They  prevailed  upon  thou- 
lands  of  various  difperled  tribes  to  embrace  their  religion,  and 
thefe  foon  induced  others  to  follow  their  example,  magnifying 
the  peace  and  tranquility  tliey  enjoyed  under  the  direclion  of 
the  Fathers, 

Our  limits  do  not  permit  us  to  trace  Vv'ith  precifion  all  tlic 
fteps  which  were  taken  in  the  acccmpliflitnent  of  fo  cxtraordi- 
rinry  a  conqueft  over  the  bodies  and  minds  cf  nien.  The 
Jeluits  left  nothing  undone  that  could  confirm  their  fubjeftion, 
or  tijal  could  increaie  th^ir  number  ;  and  it  is  (aid  that  above 
three  hundred  »nd  forty  thonfand  families  lived  in  obedience, 
and  exprcifed  tirt  awe,  bordering  upon  adoration,  yet  procured 
w^ithout  anv  violence  or  conftraint  ;  tha^t  tl>e  Indians  were  in- 
ftrufted  in  the  militarv  art,  and  could  raife  fixty  tboufand  men 
well  armed;  thut  they  lived  in  towns,  v/cre  regularly  clad, 
laboured  in  agriculture,  exercifed  manufafturcs,  lome  even 
afpired  to  the  elegant  arts,  and  that  nothing  could  equal  their 
fubmifficn  to  autiiority.  except  their  contentment  under  it. 
Some  writers  have  treated  the  charaAer  of  thefe  Jefuits  with 
great  feverity,  aecufing  tlrem  of  ambition,  pride,  and  of  carry- 
ing their  authority  to  luch  an  excefs,  as  to  caufe  not  only  per- 
fons  of  both  fexes,  but  even  the  magiflratcs,  who  were  always 
chofen  fro^n  among  the  Indians,  to  be  correfted  before  them 
with  ftripes,  afid  by  fuftering  perfons  of  the  highefk  difkinftion, 
witiiin  their  jurifdiftions,  to  kifs  the  hem  of  their  garments  as 
•the'  greateft  honour.  The  priefls  themfelvcs  polfelTecl  large 
property,  all  manufactures  were  theirs,  the  natural  prodirce  of 
the  country  u'as  brought  to  them,  and  the  treaiurcs  annually 
remitted  to  the  luperior  of  the  order,  leemed  to  evince  that 
zeal  for  religion  was  not  the  only  motive  for  forming  thefe 
miflions..  Tlie  Fathers  would  not  permit  any  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Peru,  whether  Spaniards,  Meftizos,  or  even  Indiarrs, 
to  come  within  their  miffions  in  Paraguay.  In  the  year  1757, 
when  part  of  this  territory  was  ceded  by  Spain  to  the  crown  of 


V  BSE  RVATIONS,  &c.  i-t 

•Portugal  in  exchange  for  Saint  Sacrament,  to  make  the  Uragua 
the  boundary  of  their  pofl'effions,  the  Jefuits  refuicd  to  comply 
with  this  divifion,  or  to  fuffer  themielves  to  be  transferred 
from  one  hand  to  another,  like  cattle,  without  their  own  con- 
fent.  We  were  informed  by  the  Spanilh  Gazette,  that't'lVe 
Indians  a£luaUy  took  up  arms  ;  but  notwithftanding  the  exa£l- 
nefs  of  their  difcipline,  they  were  eafily,  and  with  conli- 
jderable  flaughter,  defeated  by  the  European  troops  who  wcic 
fent  to  quell  them;  and  in  1767,  the  Jefuits  were  removed 
from  America,  by  royal  authority,  and  their  late  fubjtfts  were 
put  upon  the  fame  footing  with  the  relt  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  country. 


— «"<"<"<-<-<-«<-4« ^  -^  ♦^> >•>•>••»••>•>•■> — 

"WITH  refpe£t  to  the  iflands  belonging  to  the  Spanil"h  mo- 
narchy in  this  part  of  the  globe,  we  fliuU  notice  them  m 
another  place  ;  but  in  order  to  afford  a  more  particular  view 
of  the  Spanifii  intereft  in  her  South-American  colonies,  as 
well  as  of  the  policy  purfued  by  her  with  relpeft  to  them,  we 
fhall  offer  a  few  additional  general  remarks  on  the  government, 
ecclefiaftical  eftablifhment,  and  lyllem  of  trade  carried  on  witli 
them. 

Notwithftanding  the  rapid  depopulation  of  America,  a  very 
conliderable  number  of  the  native  race  ftill  remains  both  in 
Mexico  and  Peru,  efpecially  in  thofe  parts  which  were  not  ex- 
pofed  to  the  firft  fury  of  the  Spanilh  arms,  or  delolated  by  the 
firff  efforts  of  their  indulhy,  (liU  more  ruinous.  In  Guatimala, 
Chiap:i,  Nicaragua,  and  the  other  provinces  of  the  Mexican  em- 
pire, which  ftretch  along  the  South  fea,  the  race  of  Indians  is 
ftill  numerous  ;  their  fettlemcnts  in  fome  places  are  fu  populous, 
as  to  merit  the  name  of  cities.  In  the  drree  audiences  into 
which  New-Spain  is  divided,  there  are,  a'S  we  have  beiore 
mentioned,  at  leaft  two  millions  of  Indians  ;  a  pitiful  remnant, 
indeed,  of  its  ancient  population,  but  fuch  as  ffiU  forms  a  body 
•of  people  fuperior  in  number  to  that  of  all  the  other  inhabitants 
of  this  extenfive  country.  In  Peru  feveral  diilriAs,  parti<;u- 
lariy  in  the  kingdom  of  Quito,  are  occupied  almoft  entirely  by 
Indians.  In  other  provinces  they  are  mingled  with  the  Spani- 
aiid^t^nd  in  many  of  their  lettlcments  are  almoft  the  only 
-^^fhl-n  W^O  -  pr^ftile;  ;  tiitS .linechanic    an s,   aw4f  fiU  .Woft  ,qfi,^h« 

Z   2. 


172  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE 

inferior  flations  in  focicty.  As  the  inhabitants  both  of  Mexico 
and  Peru  were  accuftom^d  to  a  fixed  reHdence,  and  to  a  certain 
degree  of  regular  induflry,  lefs  violence  was  requifite  in  bring- 
ing ih^m  to  Je^ijie  conformity  with, the  European  modes  of  civil 
life.  ,-.^tt(;,j  vy^hfrgyeF  tH?  Spaniards  fettled  among  the  favage 
tribes  of  America,  their  attempts  to  incorporate  with  them 
have  been  always  fruitiefs,  and  oficn  fatul  to  the  natives.  Im- 
patient of  reftiaintj  and  difdaining  labour  as  a  mark  of  fervility, 
they  either  abandoned  their  original  feats,  and  fought  for  inde- 
pendence in  mountains  and  forefts  inacceflible  to  their  opprel- 
lors,  or  perifhcd  when  reduced  to  a  ftate  repugnant  to  their 
ancient  ideas  and  habits.  In  thediflrifts  adjacent  to  Carthagena, 
to  Panama,  and  to  £ueno$  Ayres,  the  delolation  is  more  gene- 
ral than  even  in  thofe  parts  of  Mexico  and  Peru,  of  which  the 
Spaniards  have  taken  moft  full  poifeffion. 

But  the  eflablifliments  of  the  Spaniards  in  the  new  world, 
though  fatal  to  its  ancient  inhabitants,  were  made  at  a  period 
when  that  monarchy  was  capable  of  forming  them  to  the  bell 
advantage.  By  the  union  of  all  its  petty  kingdoms,  Spain  was 
become  a  powerful  Hate,  equal  to  lo  great  an  undertaking.  Its 
inpnarchs  having  extended  their  prerogatives  far  beyond  the 
limits  which  once  circumfcribed  the  regal  power  in  every 
kingdom  of  Europe,  were  hardly  lubjeft  to  controul,  either  la 
concerting  or  in  executing  their  mealuies. 

Such  was  the  power  of  (he  Spanifh  monarchs,  when  they 
were  called  to  deliberate  concerning  the  mode  of  eflablilhing 
their  dominion  over  the  moil  remote  provinces  which  had 
ever  been  fubjefted  to  any  European  flate.  In  this  deliberation 
they  felt  themlelves  under  no  confututional  reftraiut,  and  that 
as  independent  maflers  of  their  own  relolves,  they  might  iifue 
the  edifts  requifite  for  modelling  the  govefn^en^  of  the  new 
colonics,  by  a  mere  aft  of  prerogative. 

This  eaily  interpofition  of  the  Spanifh  crown  in  order  to 
regulate  the  policy  and  trade  of  its  colonies,  is  a  peculiarity 
which  difthiguifhes  their  progrefs  from  that  of  the  colonies  of 
ar;y  other  European  nation.  When  the'Portuguele,  the  En- 
glifi-i,  and  F)en9h,  took  pofrefUon  of  the  regions  in  America, 
the  advantages  which  thefe  proraifcd  to  yield  were  fo  remote  and 
unceitain,  that  their  colonies  were  fullered  to  ftruggle  through  a 
hard  infancy,  ahnofl  without  guidance  or  proteftion  from  the 
parent  flute.  But  gold  and  filver,  the  lirfl  productions,  c^f 
the  Spanifh  fettleraents  in  the  new  world,  v/ere  moie  alluring, 
an4   immediately    attiafted    the    aiicntion    of    their    iv.onarchs. 


G  0  V  ER  N  M  E  A'  T,  TR  A  D  E,   &c.  ,  ^ 3- 

ThbugH  they  had  contributed  little  to  the  difcovery,  and  almoft 
nothing  to  the  conqueft  of  the  new  world,  they  inftantly 
afiuined  the  funftion  of  its  le'giflators,  and  having  acquired  a 
fpecies  of  dominion  formealy  unknown,  they  formed  a  plan  for 
cxcrcifing  it,  to  which  nothing  fiinilar  occurs  in  the  hidory  of 
human  affairs. 

The  fundamental  maxim  of  Spanifh  jurifprudcnce  with  refpeft 
to  America,  is  toconfider  what  has  been  acquired  there  as  vefted 
in  the  crown,  rather  than  in  the  ftate.  By  the  bull  of  Alexan- 
der VI.  on  which,  as  its  great  charter,  Spain  foimdcd  its  right, 
all  the  regions  that  had  been,  ov  fliould  be  difcovered,  were  be- 
llowed as  a  free  gift  upon  Ferdinand  and  liabella.  They  and 
their  (uccefTors  were  uniformly  held  to  be  the  univcrlal  pro- 
prietors of  the  vaft  territories  which  the  arms  of  their  lubjecls 
conquered  in  the  new  world.  From  them  all  grants  of  land 
there  flowed,  and  to  them  they  finally  returned.  The  leaders 
who  condufted  the  various  expeditions,  the  governors  who 
prefided  over  the  different  colonies,  the  ofiiccrs  of  juflice,  and 
the  minifters  of  religion,  were  all  appointed  by  their  authority, 
and  removeable  at  their  pleafure.  The  people  who  compoled 
infant  fettlements  were  entitled  to  no  privileges  indepen- 
dent of  the  fovereign,  or  that  ferved  as  a  barrier  againft 
the  power  of  the  crown.  It  is  true,  that  when  towns  were 
built,  and  formed  into  bodies  corporate,  the  citizens  were  per- 
mitted to  eleft  their  own  magiftrates,  who  governed  them  by 
laws  which  the  community  enafted.  Even  in  the  moft  despotic 
ftates,  this  feeble  Ipark  of  libei  ty  is  not  exlinguiihed  ;  but 
in  the  cities  of  Spanifh  America,  this  jurildiftion  is  merelv 
municipal,  and  is  confined  to  the  regulation  of  their  own  inte- 
rior commerce  and  police.  In  whatever  relates  to  public  go- 
vernment, and  the  general  interefl:,  the  will  of  the  lovereign  is 
law  ;  no  political  power  originates  from  the  people  ;  all  centers 
in  the  crown,   and  in  the  officers  of  its  nomination. 

When  the  conquefts  of  the  Spaniards  in  America  were  com- 
pleted, their  monarchs,  in  forming  the  plan  of  internal  Dolicy 
tor  their  new  dominions,  divided  tiiern  into  two  imincule  00- 
vernments,  one  fubjeft  to  the  viceroy  of  New- Spain,  the  other 
to  the  viceroy  of  Peru  ;  the  jurifdiftion  of  the  former  extended 
over  all  the  provinces  belonging  to  Spain  in  the  northern  divi- 
lion  of  the  American  continent;  under  that  of  the  latter,  was 
comprehended  whatever  flie  pofTcfled  in  South- America.  This 
arrangement,  which,  from  the  beginning,  was  attended  with 
many  inconvcniencies,  became  intoleviible  when  the'  r'em.ote 
piovinces  of  each   vice-royalty    began    to    improve    in    induflry 


174  OBSERVATIONS    ON    THE 

and  population.  As  a  remedy  for  thofe  evils,  a  third  vice- 
royalty  has  been  eflabliflicd  in  the  prefent  century  at  Santa  Fe 
de  Bogota,  the  capital  of  the  uew  kingdom  of  Granada,  the 
juriMitli'^n  I  of  which  extends  over  the  whole  kingdom  of 
T:c;*rj  JFirnj.e  and  the  province  of  Qiiito.  Thofc  viceroys' riot 
only  l-eprcfcnt  the  pcrlon  of  their  lovereign,  but  pofTels  his 
regal  prerogatives  within  the  precinfts  of  their  own  govern- 
jqnents,  ^n  tljcir  utmod  extent.  Like  liini,  they  cxeicife  fu- 
pi;eme  authority  in  every  department  of  government,  civil,  mi- 
litary and  criminal.  They  have  the  fole  right  of  nominating 
the  pel  Ions  who  hold  many  offices  of  the  highefl  importance, 
and  the  pccafional  privilege  of  lupplying  thoie  which,  when 
llVey  becoJTT^.yacant  by  death,  aie  in  the  royal  gift,  uatil  the 
iucceilor  appointed  by  the  king  fliall  arrive.  The  external 
poirip  of  their  government  is  fuited  to  its  real  dignity  and 
power.  Their  courts  are  formed  upon  the  model  of  that  at 
Madrid,  with  horie  and  foot  guards,  a  houfhold  regularly  edab- 
Lihcd,  numerous  attendants,  and  enhgns  of  command,  dilplay- 
ing.,fu.ch  niiignificcnce  as  hardly  ictains  the  appearance  of  dele- 
gated aut^hority. 

But  as  the  vicejoys  cannot  difcharge  in  perfon  the  funftions 
c.f  a  iupreme  magiflrate  in  cveiy  part  of  their  extenfive  jurif- 
dii^ion,,  they  aie  aided  in  their  government  by  officers  and  tri- 
bunals fimilat  to'thotc  in  Spain.  The  conduft  of  civil  affairs  in 
the  various  provinces  and  didrifts,  into  which  the  Spanifh  do- 
minions in  America  are  divided,  is  committed  to  magillrates  of 
vuiious  orders  and  denominations  ;  fome  appointed  by  the  king, 
otheis  by  tlie  viceroy,  but  ;'ll  iu!j(.£t  to  the  command  of  the 
latter,  amenable  to  his  juriidiftion.  The  adminidration  of  judice 
ii  vcftcd  in  tribuimlt,  known  by  the  name  of  Audiences,  and 
formed  upon  the  moutl  ot  the  court  of  chancery  in  Spain. 
Theie  aie  eleven  in  nun:ber,  and  oiipenle  judice  to  as  many 
difirifts,  into  which  ll;e  Spanifh  dominions  in  Am.erica  are  di- 
vided, 'rhe  ntaiiber  tvf  judges  in  the  comt  of  Audience  is 
vnricu?,  according  to  the  extent  and  inmortancc  of  their  jurif- 
diftidn.  Thc.draion  is  no  Icis  honourable  than  lucrative.  Both 
civiland  crimin.il  caulcs  come  under  their  cognisance,  and  for 
ejch  prculiir  judges  are  let  .iparr.  Tlie  Spanim  vice^'pW  nave 
often  attempted  to  intiudc  ilicmlclvcs  into  the  feat  of  judice, 
and  vvi'th  an  ambition  which  their  didance  /roip  the  controul 
of  a'lupcrior  rendered  bold,  Have  afpircd  at  a  power  whifrh'-even 
uieir  mailer  docs  not  vepturs  to  allume.  In  order  t9  check 
an  \uur^>atipn  whicli  mint  have    annihilated   jval-.ce  and  iecuruy 


GOVE  R  N  M  E  N  T,    T  R  A  D  E,   &.c.  1 75 

in  the  Spanifli  colonies,  by  fubjefting  th,e  li'v^s  and  property  of 
all  to  the  will  of  a  firigle  man,  the  viceroys  have  Dcen  prohi- 
bited, in  themofl  explicit  terms,  by  i-epeated  laws,  from  ir^ter- 
fering  in  the  judicial  proceedings  of  the  courts  of  Audience^ 
or  from  delivering  an  opinion,  or  giving  a  voice  with  refpeft  to 
any  point  litigated  before  them.  In  fome  particular  cafes,  in 
which  any  quellion  of  civil  right  is  involved,  even  the  political 
regulations  of  the  viceroy  may  be  brought  under  the  review  of 
the  court  of  Audience,  which,  in  thofe  inilanccs,  may  be 
deemed  an  intermediate  power  placed  between  him  and  the 
people,  as  a  conftitutional  barrier  to  circumfcribc  his  jurif- 
diftion.  But  as  legal  reflraints  on  a  perion  who  reprefents  the 
fovereign,  and  is  clothed  with  his  authority,  are  little  fuited  to  ' 
the  genius  of  Spanifli  policy,  the  hcfitation  and  rcferve  witli 
which  it  confers  this  power  on  the  courts  of  Audience  are  re- 
markable. They  may  advife,  they  may  remonftrate  ;  but,  iri 
the  event  of  a  direft  collifion  between  their  opinion  and  the  will 
of  the  viceroy,  what  he  determines  inufl  be  carrieci  into  execu- 
tion, and  nothing  remains  for  them  but  to  lay  the  matter  before 
the  king  and  the  council  of  the  Indies.  Upon  the  death  of  i 
viceroy,  without  any  provilion  of  a  fucceffor  by  the  king,  the 
fupreme  power  is  veiled  in  the  court  of  Audience  refident  in 
the  capital  of  the  vice- royalty,  and  the  fenior  judge,  affifted  by 
his  brethren,  exercifes  all  the  funftions  of  the  vicerov  while 
tlie  ofHce  continues  vacant.  In  matters  which  come  under  the 
cognizance  of  the  Audiences,  in  the  courfe  of  their  ordinary 
jurifdiftion,  as  courts  of  juflice,  their  fentences  are  final  in  every 
litigation  concerning  property  of  lefs  value  than  fix  thoufand 
pefos  ;  but  when  the  fubjeft  in  difpute  exceeds  that  fum,  their 
decifions  are  fubjeft  to  review,  and  may  be  carried  by  appeal 
before  tlie  royal  council  of  the  Indies. 

In  this  council,  one  of  the  mod  confiderable  in  the  mnnarchv 
for  dignity  and  power,  is  veiled  the  lupreme  government  of  all 
tlie  Spanifh  dominions  in  America.  It  was  fii  ft  eftablifhed  by 
Ferdinand,  in  the  year  1511,  and  brought  into  a  more  perfeft 
form  by  Charles  V.  in  the  year  1524.  Its  jurildiftion  extends 
to  every  department,  ecelefiaftical,  civil,  military  and  commer- 
cial.. All  laws  and  ordinances  relative  to  the  government  and 
police '"of  the  colonies  originate  there,  and  muft  be  approved 
of  by  two-thirds  of  the  members,  before  they  are  ilfued  ia  the 
name  of  the  king.  ,  All  the  offices,  of  which  the  nomination  is 
referved  to  the  crown,  are  conferred  in  this  council.  To  it 
each  perfon  employed  in  America,  from  the  viceroy  downwards 
is  accountable  :   it  reviews  their  conduct,  rewards  their  ferviccs. 


i'jS  OSSERVATTOiXS  ON  THE 

and  inflifis  thq;  punifhm<|;nts  duetto   tne^rmalverla^ioiis  ;^,bfffoVc 

it,   is  laid  all  the  intelligence,   eithcir  putlic  or    fecret,   received 

from  America,  and  every  fchemc  of  improving  the  adminiftra- 

tion,  the  police^  p^  the  Commerce  of  the  colonics,  is  fuKmittcd 

to  its  confideration.      From    the  firfl  inftitution  of  tlie  coiihcil 

of  the  Indies,  it   has   been  the   conftant    objeft  of  the   catholic 

monarchs  to  maintain  its  authority,  and  to  make  fuch  additions 

.from  ,^ime  to  time,  both  to  its  power  and  its  fplendor,   as   might 

jrrerfd^F,  it  fqrrnidable   to    all  their  fubjefls   in    the  new    world. 

Whatever  degree  of  public  order  and  virtue  ftill  remains  in  that 

country,  whei;e  .fo    many    circumflances    confpire  to    relax  the 

«,^fprmer,  arKi  to  corrupt   the    latter,    may   be   afcribed  inf'a'gif-eat 

,.  .meafure  to  the  wife    regulations  and  viffilant  infpeftion  "of  ■'tnis 

_re(pcclable  tribunal,  '' 

,As  the   king  is  fuppofed  to  be  always  prcferit  in  his  cdujicil 
t^  of  the    Indies,   its   meetings   are   held   in    the  place    where   he 
pjefides.      Another  tribunal   has    been    infcitutcd,  in  order  to  re- 
gulate fuch    commercial   affairs  as    required  the    immediate  and 
perfonal    infpe&ion    of  thofe  appointed    to    fuperintend    thein  : 
this  is   called  Cafa  dc   la    Contratacion,  or  the    houfe    of  trade, 
and  Was  eClablifhed  in  Seville,   the  port  to  which  commerce  with 
the  iiew  world  was    confined,  as   early   as   the    ye^r    150;.     ;It 
,,iipay,.b?  confidered   both  as  a    board  of   trade  and,  as  "a    c6(i^t  of 
judicature  :   in  the  former  capacity,   it  takes  cognizance^ of  wlik- 
cver    relates  to.  the    intercourfe  of  Spain  with  America  ;  it  re- 
gvil^ites  w})atycommoditie5.fhouljd,)^e  exported  jth^^^  ha* 

.,  the  in{pe£lion  of  fuch  ss  are  received  in  return  :  it  decides  cori- 
.  cerning  the  departure  of  the  fleets  for  the  Weft-Indies,  the 
freight  and  b^urdeiv  of  thej  fhips,  their  equipment  and  dqfti^a- 
i^^tion  :  in  tJ;\^,  la^iXer  capacity  it  jirdges  with  refpeft  t6  eVpry 
^^quellion,  -oivil^,  commercial,  _  or  criminal,  arifing  in  ■confe- 
1  quence  of  the  tranlaftions  9f  Spain  with  America  ;  and  in  both 
^i;|jl|ipfe  departme.rLjls,  ,its  decifions  are  exempted  from  the  review 
,^^  ,a^vy-)CQii,r,t,but  .that  of  the  council  of  the  Indies,  "   . 

j^,^,  Such  is  the  great  outline  of  that  fyftem  of  government  which 
^.^.Spain  has  eftabhriied  in  her  American  colonies.  To  enumerate 
^  the  various  (ubordinate  boards  and  officers  employed  iii  the  ad- 
^  .ITiiniflration  of  jufl.ice,  in  colle6ling  the  pubhc  revenue,  and  in 
.  regulating  the  interior  police  of  the  country  ;  to  defcribe 
.  ,th^r  .difiercnt.funftiionSj,  and  to  inq^uire  into  the  mode  arid  effc6l 
Hv^fri^^^i-*!  operations,  would  prove  a.  detail  no  lefs  intricate  than 
3«nunMfe,,atid  uninterefting.  , 

The  full  objc£t  of  tl^-e  Spanifh   monarchs  was  to   fecure   the 
produftions  of  tlic  colonics  to  the  parent  ftatc,    by  an  abfolute 


GOVERNMENT,    TRADE^&c,  177 

^^tihibidon  of  any  intercourfe  with  foreign  nations.  Tliey  took 
poilenion  of  America  by  I'ight  of  conquefl,  and,  cfcihrcious  not 
only  of  the  feeblenefs  of  their  infant  fettI"dmcHu,'1§m 'kwrne  of 
the  difficulty  ih  cflablifhing  their  dominion  '6vei*M'c'sff6rfV"Tl^o  ex- 
tenfive^  or  in  retaining  fo  many  reluftant  nations  utiWei'"tnc-^''dk'e, 
they  dreaded  the  intrufion  of  ilrangers;  they  feven  fh tinned  th'cir 
infpcftion,  a,nd  endeavoured  to  keep  them  at  a  diftancC  from 
theii:  poafts.  This  fpirit  of  jcaloury  and  exclufion,  which  at 
firfl:  was  natural,  and  perhjps  ncccffaiy,  augmented  as  their  pof- 
felTions  in  America  extended,  and  the  value  of  them  came  to  be 
trioferfully  underftood  :  in  confcquence  of  it,  a  lyftem  of  colo- 
nizing wr.s  introduced,  to  which  there  had  hitherto  been  nothing 
fimilar  among  mankind.  In  their  American  fettlcments,  the 
Spanifh  monarchs  took  what  was  peculiar  to  cachj  and  (ludicd  to 
unite  them.  By  fending  colonies  to  regions  fo  remote,  by  eftab- 
lifhmg  in  each  a  form  of  interior  policy  and  adminiftration, 
under  diftinft  governors,  and  with  peculiar  lau'S,  they  disjoined 
them  from  the  mother  country.  By  retaining  in  their  own 
hands  the  rights  of  legiflation,  as  well  as  that  of  impofing  taxes, 
together  with  the  power  of  nominating  the  perfons  who  filled 
every  department  of  executive  government,  civil  or  military/, 
they  fecured  their  dependence  upon  the  parent  flatc.  Happily 
for  Spain,  the  fituation  of  her  colonies  was  luch,  as  rendered  it 
ppfTible  to  reduce  this  new  idea  into  practice.  Almoft  all  the 
countries  which  flie  had  dii'covered  and  occupied  lay  within  the 
tropicSi  The  produftions  of  that  large  portion  of  the  globe  are 
different  from  thofe  of  Europe,  even  in  its  moft  fouthern  pro- 
vinces. The  qualities  of  the  climate  and  of  the  loil  naturally  turn 
the  induflry  of  fucli  as  fettle  there  into  new  channels.  When 
the  Spaniards  firfl  took  poifeffion  of  their  dominions  in  Amelita, 
the  precious  metals  which  they  yielded  were  the  only  objctt 
that  attraQ;cd  their  attention.  Even  when  their  efl-'orts  began  to 
take  a  better  direftion,  they  employed  themfelvcS  almoft  wholly 
in  rearing  fuch  peculiar  pfoduflions  of  the  climate,  as,  from  their 
rarity  or  value,  were  of  chief  demand  in  the  mother  couritry. 
Allured  by  vafh  profpefts  of  immediat-e  wealth,  they  dildained 
to  w^afte  their  induflry  on  what  was  leCs  lucrative,  but  of  fupe- 
rjor  moment.  In  order  to  render  it  imponible  to  correft  this 
Vrror,  and  to  prevent  them  from  making  any  efforts  in  induilry 
vyhich  might  interfere  with  thofe  of  the  mother  country,  tlie 
cilabiiiliment  oi^  fevpral 'fp^cles  of  manufaftures,  and  even  the 
culture  of  theVine,'  or  olfvc,"2ire  prohibited  in  the  Spanilli  co- 
lonies, under  I'avecc  penalties.     They  muft  tru'ft'  bhtirely  'fo  the 


A 


.1  -jB  OBSER  V  AT  IONS    ON    THE 

moth'er^'^tcViintrj'  for  the  objefts  of  primary  necefTity.  Their 
clofllfeX'their  furniture,  their  in flruments  of  labour,  their  luxu- 
ritfK'  'at^<a  eft^ii'^  idonTiderabfe  |)aft  of  the  provilions  which  "'tbiiy' 
cortru77>c,  v^ef'g  ffnporied  from  Spain.  During  a  great  part  oT" 
th'e  fixteei^th  eeHtury,  Spsin,  poflTefTing  an  extenfive  commerce 
and  fiouffrtiinr*.  ffiin'ufaftures,  could  fuppiv  with  eafe  the  groWihg; 
detfttfnd?  of  her  colonies  from  '  her  own  ftores.  The  produce  of 
tfeitilifhi^S'  and  plantaftions  was  given  in  exchancte  for  thefe  : 
hivfall  thafthc  colonies  received,  as  well  as  all  that  they  gave'/ 
\las  ccyfiX'e^ed  in  Spanifh  bottoms  ;  no  veflel  belonging  to  tlic 
colonies 'Xv^is  «<ryy  permitted  to  carry  the  commodities  of  Ame- 
rica'16- 'EuHDpe't' even  the  commercial  intercourfe  of  one  colony 
wtth  another'  was  either  abfolutely  prohibited,  or  limited  by 
mnrsy  jealous  reftrifclions.  All  that  America  5'iclds  Rows  intO' 
the  ports  of  Spain  ;  all  that  it  confumcs  mud  iiTuc  from  them. 
Mo  foreigner  can  enter  its  colonies  without  cxprcfs  permifiion  f 
no  vefTel  oF  any  foreign  nation  is  received  into  their'  FiiVtibtirs  ; 
and  the  pains  of  death,  witli  confifcation  of  moveables,  aire  de- 
nounced againfl  every  inhabitant  who  prefumcs  to  trade  with 
thrm.  Thus  the  colonies  are  kept  in  a  flate  of  perpetual  pu- 
pillage ;  and  by  the  introduftion  of  this  commercial  dependence^ 
a  refinement  in  policy,  of  which  Spain  fet  the  firlt  example  to 
the  European  nations,  the  fupremacy  of  jhe  parent  ftatft  hath 
been  maintained  over  remote  colonies  during  more  than  two 
centuries  and  a  half* 

Such  arc  the  maxims  fo  which  the  Spanifb  monarchs  feem  to 
have  attended  in  forming  their  new  fettlements  in  America  :  but 
they  could  not  plant  with  the  fame  rapidity  that  they  had  d'ei- 
Rroycd  ;  and,  from  many  concurring  caufes,  their  progrefs  h'as 
been  extvemel'y  flow  in  filling  up  the  immenle  void  which  t.heir 
dcvafhation  hid  occafioned,  Migratiott  and  popuktittn  HaS  Bfectv 
fo  much  damped,  that  fixty  years  after  the  dilcovcry  o'f  the  new 
world,  the  number  of  Spaniards,  in  all  its  provinces,  is  com- 
puted not  to  have  exceeded  fifteen  thouland, 

I'he  mode  in  which  property  was  diftribtited  irt  ?he  Spantfli 
colonies,  and  the  regulations  eflablifhed  with  refpeff  tri'  the 
tranirniffion  of  it,  whether  by  dtfcent  Or  by  iale,  were  ex- 
tremely unfavourable  to  population.  In  order  to  promote  'it 
rapid  incrcjfo  of  people  in  any  new  fcttlcment,  property  in  land 
ought  lo.be  divi  ed  into  fmall  fhares,  and  the  alienation  of  it 
fliould  be  ,  rendered  extremely  eafy.  But  the  rapacioufnefs  'o? 
th,^,^par)jftijC)Pnqjierors  of  the  new  wOfM'-pdM'n'O'ri^aVd  *t?(tHtS 
TuudaHiental    maxim   of    policy;   and,  as' they 'pofKflb'd  powdr, 


GOVERNMENT,    TRADE,   ijc,  a 7..^. 

which  enabled  them  to  gratify  the  utinofl  extrav-gr^qcc  of  thaiti 
wifheSj  many  feized  difliifts  of  great  extent,  and.  licld  thciu 
AS  encomiendas.  By  degrees  they  obtained  the  pjiivlkge  oij  con»^ 
verting  a  part  of  thefe  into  mayoralgos,  a  fpecies  of  fief,  intro- 
duced into  the  Spanifh  fyftcm  of  feudal  jurilprudencc,  which 
can  neither  be  divided  nor  alienated.  Thus  a  great  portion  of 
landed  property,  under  this  rigid  form  of  entail,  is  withheld 
from  circulation,  and  defcends  from  father  to  fon  unimproved^ 
and  of  little  value  either  to  the  proprietor  or  to  the  community. 

To  this  we  may  add,  that  the  fupport  of  the  enormous  and 
cxpen>five  fabric  of  their  ecclefiaftical  eftablifhment  has  been  a 
burden  on  the  Spanifii  colonies,  which  has  retarded  the  progrefs 
of  population  and  induftry.  The  payment  of  tythes  is  a  heavy 
tax  on  induftry  ;  and  if  the  exaftion  of  them  be  not  regulated 
and  circumfcribed  by  the  wildom  of  the  civil  magiftrate,  it  be- 
comes intolerable  and  ruinous  :  but,  inflead  of  any  rcflraint  on 
the  claims  of  ecclefiaftics,  the  Inconfiderate  zeal  of  the  Spanifli 
legiflators  admitted  them,  into  America  in  their  full  extent,  and 
at  once  impofed  on  their  infant  colonies  a  burden  whicli  is  in  no 
flight  degree  opprefiive  to  lociety,  even  in  its  moit  improved 
ftate. 

By  the  famous  regulations  of  Charles  V.  in  3,54:1,  the 
Viigh  pretenfions  of  tlie  conquerors  of  the  new  world,  who 
confidered  its  inhabitants  as  flavcs,  to  whofc  fervice  they  had 
acquired  a  full  right  of  property,  were  finally  abrogated.  From 
that  period  the  Indians  have  been  reputed  freemen,  and  entitled 
to  ihe  priviUges  of  fidjifds.  When  admitted  into  this  rank  it 
was  deemed  juji,  that  they  fhould  contribute  towards  the  fupport 
and  improvement  of  the  fociety  which  had  adopted  them  as 
members.  But  as  no  confiderable  benefit  could  be  expcftod 
from  the  voluntary  efforts  of  men  unacquainted  with  regular 
induftry,  and  averfe  to  labour,  the  court  of  Spain  found  it  ncccf- 
fary  to  fix  and  fecure,  by  proper  regulations,  what  it  tlijup-ht 
reaionable  to  exaft  from  them.  With  this  view,  an  annual  tax 
was  impoled  upon  every  male  from  the  age  of  eighteen  to  fifty  • 
a^d  ?tjthe  lame  time,  the  nature  as  well  as  the  extent  of  the  i'cr- 
vices  which  they  might  be  required  to  perform,  were  afcer- 
tained  with  precifion.  This  tribute  varies  in  different  pro- 
yififqs.;  but  if  we  take  that  paid  in  New-Spain  as  a  medium  its 
ann.ual  amount  is  nearly  four  fhillings  a  head.  Every  Indian  is 
either, an  immediate  vaffal  of  the  crown,  or  depends  upon  fome 
fubjeft  to  whom  the  dillrift  in  which  he  refides  has  bden  granted 
for  a  iimited    lime,  under  the  donomination  of  z\\  ■crh-miitnda. 

A  a  2 


iSo  OBS£RVAf!i}Ws''ON    THE 

In'{h'fe'foi'rtier'"c:<fej  about  three-fourths  of  the  tax  is  paid'i^to 
the  rcynl  trcafury ; ''iri  the  latter,  the  fame  proportion  bf  it 
bHongs'to  fiVe  hlilifer  of-thegrant.  > 

'/he  bcncEt  ariTing  from  the  fervices  of  the  Indinns  accrue^ 
euher  lo  the  crpwn,  <>r  to  the  holder  of  the  encomienda,3i'ccor'a- 
ir\g  to  the  iame  rule  obierved  in  the  payment  or  tribute  :  thole 
lervices,  however,  which  can  now  be  Icrnlly  exaftid.,  are  very 
4iff(?rent  from,  the  tafks  originally  impofQd  upon  the  Indians, 
The  nature  of  the  work  which  ihcy  muft  perforrn  is  defined, 
and  a  vecompcnce  is  granted  for  their  labour.  The  dated  fer- 
.yices  4^"^.^'^^^'*^  °^  '^^^  Indians  may  be  divided  .  into  tvva 
blanches:  they  are  either  employed  in  v/orks  of  primary  ne- 
ceflit^',  without  which  focicty  cannot  fubfift  comfortably,  or 
are  compclleu  to  labour  in  the  mines,  frorn  "^vji^c^^  ^hc.  Spanifh 
colonies  derive  their  chief  value  and  importance.  In  confe- 
q^ucncc-  ^)f  the  former,  they  arc  obliged  to  affill  in  the  culture  of 
inaize  and  other  grain  of  neceffary  confumption ;  in  tending 
cattle  ;  in  ei.irting  edifices  of  public  utility  ;  in  building  bridges, 
and  iij  formirg  high  roads;  but  they  cannot  be  co^ftrained  to 
'^our  in  raifing  vines,  olives  and  fugar-canes,  or  any  Ipecies  of 
'-  -••ation,  which  has  tor  its  objcft  the  gratification  of  luxury 
,ci  crcial  profit.     In  conlequqnce  of  t^e  latter,  thp  Indians 

.7,  r]  to  undertake  the  more  unpleafant  ta{k,   of  extraft- 

ii.>  bowels  of  the  earth,  and  of  refining    it  by  fuc- 

cc  liiN  t  1  fs  unwholefome  than  operofe,  , 

, ,  .  The  i^iOvJt  «-*(  Vf'''V'''"§  t>"^'^  thefe  fervices  is  the  fame.  TJie 
Indians  aic  called  out  fucceflively  i,n  divifipns,  Jerixie,d,  Mu^ 
and  no  pcHon  can  be  compcllc4;^P.§o  bijt  i.n.hjs  tur,!;!;,  ,  JJp.J'^.^l^, 
the  Duiiiljcr  called  out  luulh  not  exceed  the  fcventh  part  of  the 
inhabitants  in  any  diftrift.  In  New-Spain,  where  the  Indiai^s 
Bit  iiiuie  numerous,  it  is  fixed  at  four  in  the  hundred.  During 
M'hat  time  the  labour  of  fuch  Indians  as  are  employed  in  agri- 
cuhure  continues,  m'C  have  not  been  able  to  learn  :  byt  in  Peru, 
each  mita,  or  divifion,  deftined  for  the  mines,  remains  .  there 
fix  nionllis  ;  and  while  engaged  in  this  fervice,  a,  Uabour-er 
never  receives  lefs  than  two  ftiillings  a  day,  and  ^ofteA;  earns 
more  th.m  double  that  fum.  No  Indian,  refiding  at  <s  greater 
oillancG  than  thirty  miles  from  a  mine,  is  included  in  the  mita,, 
or  divifion  employed  in  working  it;  nor  are  the  irahdbifants 
of  the  low  country  compelled  to  remo\  e  from  that  wartn  'cti- 
matc   to  the  cold   elevated    regions   where   minerals   abounds  ' 


GOVERNMENT,  TRADE,  87.  iS% 

The  Indians  who  live  in  the  principal  towns  are  entirely 
fubjeft  to  the  Spanilli  laws  and  mugiftrates,  but  in  their  own 
villages  they  are  governed  by  caziques,  fornq!  o£.  y,'han:i  are 
the  defcendants  of  their  ancient  lords,  others  are  named  by  the 
Spanifh  viceroys.  Thefe  regulate  the  petty  affairs  or'  the 
people  under  them,  according  to  maxims  tranl'mitted  to  them 
hv  tradition  from  their  anceftors.  A  certain  portion  of  the 
referved  fourth  of  the  annual  tribute  is  dcftined  for  the  Talary 
of  the  caziques  and  proteftors  ;  another  is  applied'  to  the  main- 
tenance of  the  clergy  employed  in  the  inftruftion  of  the  Indians. 
Another  part  feems  to  be  appropriated  for  the  ule  of  the  In- 
tlians  themfelves,  and  is  applied  for  the  payment  of  their 
tribute  in  years  of  famine,  or  when  a  particular  diftrift  is 
affeftcd  by  any  extraordinary  local  calamity.  Befides  this, 
provifion  is  made  by  various  laws,  that  holpitals  fhall  be  found- 
eW'irt  every  new  fettlement  for  the  reception  of  Indians.  Such 
hofpitals  have  accordingly  been  erefted,  both  for  the  indigent 
and  infirm,  in  I-ima,  in  Cuzco,  and  in  Mexico,  where  the 
Indians,  on  the  whole,  may  be  faid  to  be  treated  with  tendernefs 
and  humanity.  Such  are  the  leading  principles  in  rlie  jurifpru- 
dence  arid  policy  by  which  the  Indians  are  now  governed  in 
the  provinces  belonging  to  Spain. 

Together  with  the  form  of  civil  government  in  the  Spanifh 
colonies,  the  peculiarities  in  their  ecclefiaflical  conflitutioh 
merit  confideration.  Notwithftanding  the  fuperftitious  vene- 
ration with  which  the  Spaniards  are  devoted  to  the  holy  fee, 
the  vigilant  and  jealous  policy  of  Ferdinand  early  prompted 
him  to  take  precautions  againfl;  the  introduftion  of  the  papal 
dominion  into  America.  With  this  view,  he  folicited  Alex- 
ander VI,  for  a  grant  to  the  crown  of  the  tythes  in  all  the 
newly-difcovered  countries,  which  he  obtained  on  condition  of 
his  making  provifion  for  the  religious  inftruftion  of  the  natives. 
Soon  after  Julius  II.  conferred  on  him,  and  his  fucccffors,  ihe 
right  of  patronage,  and  the  ablolute  difpofal  of  all  ecclefiaftical 
benefices  there.  In  confequcnce  of  thofe  grants,  the  Spanifh 
monarchs  have  become  in  effeft  the  heads  of  the  American 
church  :  in  thern  the  adminiftration  of  its  revenues  is  veiled, 
and' their  nomination  of  perfons  to  fupply  vacant  beneHces  is 
inftantly  confirmed  by  the  pope.  Thus,  in  all  Spanifh  America, 
authority  of  every  fpecies  centers  in  the  crown:  there  no 
poUifion  is  known  between  Ipiritual  and  tpTipp^-al  jurifdiftion  ; 
the  king  is  the  only  fuperior,  his  name  ^Jqnp  js.  hear,c|  of, 
and  no  dependence  upon  any  foreign  power  has  been  int<o- 
du?ed. 


tSi  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE 

The  hierarchy  is  cftablirtied  in  the  fame  form  as  in  Spain, 
with  its  full  trnin  of  arehbifhops,  bifhops,  deans  and  (^t}|ejfV 
dignitaries.  The  inferior  clergy  are  divided  into  three  clailcs, 
under  the  denomination  of  curas,  doftrineros  and  miflioneros, 
Tlife  firfl  are  parifli  priefts  in  thoie  parts  of  the  country  where 
the  Spaniard*;  have  fettled  ;  the  fecond  have  the  charge  of  luch 
diftrifts  as  are  inhabited  by  Indians  lubjetled  to  the  Spanifli 
government,  and  living  under  its  proteftion  ;  the  third  arc  em-» 
ployed  in  inllrutting  and  converting  tliofe  fiercer  tribes  which 
dildain  lubmJfllon  to  the  Spanifh  yoke,  and  live  in  remote  or  in- 
acceilible  regions,  to  which  the  Spanifh  arms  have  not  penetrated. 
Ijo  numerous  are  the  ecclefiafhics  of  all  thoie  various  orders,  anj^ 
luch  the  profufe  liberality  with  which  many  of  them  are.fi^^^ 
dovved,  that  the  revenues  of  the  church  in  America  are  immenfe. 

In  viewing  the  ftate  of  colonies,  where  not  only  the  number 
but  influence  of  ccclefiaftics  is  fo  great,  the  character  of  this 
powerful  body  is  an  objeft  that  merits  particular  attention.  A 
confidcrable  part  of  the  fccular  clergy  in  Mexico  and  Peru 
are  natives  of  Spain.  As  pcrfons  long  accuftomed,  by  their 
education,  to  the  retirement  and  indolence  of  academic  life  arc 
more  incapable  of  aftive  enterprife,  and  lefs  difpofed  to  ftrike 
into  new  paths,  than  any  order  of  men,  the  ccclefiaftical  adven- 
turers by  whom  the  American  church  is  recruited,  are  commonly 
luch  as,  from  merit  or  rank  in  life,  have  little  profpcft  of 
fuccefs  in  their  own  country.  Accordingly,  the  iecular  prieft$ 
in  the  i;ew  world  are  flill  lefs  diilinguifhed  than  their  brethren 
in  Spain  for  literary  accomplifhmcnts  of  any  fpecies  ;  and  though, 
by  the  ample  provifion  which  has  been  made  for  the  Americart 
church,  many  of  its  members  enjoy  the  eafe  and  independence 
which  are  favourable  to  thfr  cultivation  of  fcience,  the  body 
of  Iecular  clergy  has  hardly,  during  two  centuries  and  a  half, 
produced  one  author  whofe  works  convey  fuch  ufeful  inform 
mation,  or  poflcis  luch  a  degree  of  merit,  as  to  be  ranked 
among  thofe  which  attratl  the  attention  of  enlightened  nations. 
But  the  greatefl  part  of  the  ecclefiadics  in  the  Spanifli  lettle- 
nients  arc  regulars.  The  hi  fl  attempt  to  inftrucl  and  convert 
the  Americans  v/as  made  by  monks,  and  as  foon  as  the  conqueft 
of  any  province  was  completed,  and  its  ecclcfiaftical  ellablini- 
ment  bcgaii  to  aflume  fome  form,  the  popes  permitted  the 
mifiionaries  of  the  four  mendlcan  orders,  as  a  reward  for  their 
lervices,  to  accept  of  parochial  charges  in  America,  to,  perform; 
all  Jp'>''"^^  fuiiftions,  jind  to  receive  the,  tythes  and  other 
emoluments   of  the   bcaelicc,  without  depending,, p9;.t^§Jutifc. 


.-■.''-.    '  ■  ' 
dl£Hon    of  the   blfhop   of  the    dioccfe,  or   being'  fubjcft   to  his 

cenfures.  In  conlequcncc  of  this,  a  new  career  of  u(efulne(s, 
as  Well  as  new  objects  of  ambition,  prefented  themfeives. 
Whenever  a  call  is  made  for  a  frcfli  fupply  of  miffionaries, 
men  of  the  mofl  ardent  and  arfpiring  minds,  impatient  under 
the  reftraint  of  a  cloiftcr,  weary  of  its  infipid  uniformity,  and 
fatigued  with  the  irkfome  repeti'.ion  of  its  frivolous  funftions, 
offer  their  fervice  with  eagernefs,  and  repair  to  the  new  woliid 
in  quefl  of  liberty  and  diftinftion  :  nor  do  thev  purfue  diftinc- 
tion  without  fucccfs  ;  the  highcfl  ccclcfiaftical  honours,  as  well 
astht'Tiiofl:  lucrative  preferments  in  Mexico  and  Peru,  are  often 
iii  'the  hands  of  regulars;  and  it  is  chiefly  to  the  monadic 
orders  that  the  Americans  are  indebted  for  any  portion  of 
fcienre  that  is  cultivated  among  them.  They  arc  almofb  the 
only  iSpahifh  ecclcfiaftics  from  whom  we  have  received  any 
accounts,  either  of  the  civil  or  natural  hiftory  of  the  Various 
provinces  in  America. 

From  this  brief  furvey,  fome  idea  may  be  formed  of  the 
iriffeHor'  Hate  of  the  Spanifh  colonies.  The  fyflem  of  commer- 
cial ihtercourfe  between  them  comes  next  in  orcicr  to  be  ex- 
plainedci  If  the  dominions  of  Spain  in  the  new  world  had 
beatt'of  fuch  moderate  extent,  as  bore  a  due  propoftion  to  the 
parent  'ftate,  the  progrcfs  of  her  colonizing  might  have  been 
attended  with  the  fame  benefit  as  that  of  other  na-tions  :  but 
ivhen,  in  lefs  than  half  a  century,  her  inconfiderate  rapacity 
had  feized  on  countries  larger  than  all  Europe,  her  inability  to 
fill  fuch  vaft  regions  with  a  number  of  inhabitants  fufficient 
for  the  cultivation  of  them,  was  fo  obvious,  as  to  give  a  wrons; 
direftion  to  all  the  efforts  of  the  colonifts^  They  did  not 
fotm  compaft  fettlements,  where  induftryj^'c'i't-iclumlcriB^Jl  'With- 
iti  proper  limits,  both  in  its  views  and  operat'ions,  is  con- 
duced with  that  fober,  perfevering  fpirit,  which  gradually 
converts  whatever  is  in  its  poffefllon  to  a  proper  ui'e,  and  derives 
thence  the  greatefl  advantage,  Inftead  of  this,  the  Spaniards, 
feduced  by  the  boundlcfs  profpcft  which  opened  to  them,  di- 
vided their  poffefrions  in  America  into  goVet-nments  of  great 
eSTtent:  -  As  their  numbet  was  too  fmall  to  attempt  the  regular 
ciiUuve  bf  the  immenfe  provinces,  which  they  occupied  irather 
than  peopled,  they  bent  their  attention  to  a  few  objecls,  that 
allured  them  with  hopes  of  fudden  and  exorbitant  gain,  and 
ttifft^d'yWay  ■^itlt'^drttefn^tiTt'om  the  humbler  paths  of  ihduft'ry.' 
whidi  lead  nwie  llowly,  but  with 'greater  CertaiTntyVii)  ^vyalth' 
and  increale  of  national  ftren<Tth.'     -y'-'-^'r^d   yui   U/ »:Ju.)ajuio.n:i 


i?,4^  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE 

Of  all  the  methods  by  which  riches  may  be  acquired,  tKit 
of  fearching  for  the  precious  metals  is  one  of  the  moft  inviting. 
t(ioi9f^ny  who  are  either  unaccu domed  to  the  regular  affiduity 
with  which  the  culture  of  the  earth  and  the  operations  of 
commerce  mull  be  carried  on,  or  who  are  Co  enterprifing  and 
rapacirtvis  asnot  to  be  latisfied  with  the  gradual  returns  of  profit 
whicJjtNey>  yield.  Accordingly,  as  foon  as  the  feveral  countries 
iB"Am«i  ida'  were  fubjefted  to  the  dominion  of  Spain,  this  was 
ahiioft  the  only  method  of  acquiring  wealth  which  occured  to 
the  adventurers  by  whom  they  were  conquered.  Such  pro-* 
^^ihces  of  the  continent  as  did  not  allure  them  to  fettle,-  by  the 
pr^fpcft.  of  their  affording  gold  and  filver,  were  totally  ncgleft- 
ed.  Thofe  in  which  they  met  with  a  difappointment  of  the 
fanguinc  expeftations  they  had  formed  were  abandoned.  Even 
the  *alue  of  the  illands,  the  firfl  fruits  of  their  difcovcries,  and 
the  firft  objcft  of  their  attention,  funk  fo  much  in  their  cllima- 
tion,  when  the  mines  which  had  been  opened  in  them  were 
exhaufted,  that  they  were  deferted  by  many  of  the  planters,, 
^nd  left  to  be  occupied  by  more  induftrious  pofl'effors.  All 
crowded  to  Mexico  and  Peru,  where  the  quantities  of  gold 
and  filver  found  among  the  natives,  who  learched  for  them 
with  little  induftry  and  Icfs  fkill,  promifed  an  unexhaufted 
ilore,  as  the  recompcnce  of  more  intelligent  and  perfevering 
efforts. 

During  feveral  years,  the  ardour  of  their  refearches  was 
kept  up  by  hope  rather  than  fuccefs.  At  length,  the  rich 
fiiver  mines  of  Potofi,  in  Peru,  were  accidentally  difcovered  in 
the  year  1545,  by  an  Indian,  as  he  was  clambering  up  the 
mountain  in  purfuit  of  a  llama  which  had  ftraycd  from  his 
flock.  Soon  after  the  mines  of  Sacotecas,  in  New-Spain,  little 
inferior  to  the  other  in  value,  were  opened.  From  that 
time,  fuccelTive  difeoveries  have  been  made  ir*  both  colonics, 
and  filver  mines  are  now  fo  numerous,  that  the  working  of 
them,  and  of  foms  few  mines  of  gold  in  the  provinces  of 
Tierra  Firmc,  and  the  new  kingdom  of  Granada,  has  become 
the  capital  occupation  of  the  Spaniards,  and  is  reduced  into 
a  iyltem  no  lefs  complicated  than  intcrefted.  To  deferibe 
the  nature  of  the  various  orc^s,  the  mode  of  extmfting  them 
from  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  and  to  explain  the  leveral  pr<  - 
ccffcs  by  which  the  metals  are  feparated  from  the  fubftances 
with  which  they  are  mingled,  cither  by  the  a£lion  of  fire, 
or  the  attraftive  powers  of  mercuiy,  is  the  province  of  the 
natural  philoiophcr  or  chymill,  rather  than  of  the  hillorian. 


GOVEkN'M E^ T> "^T R  A  i> £^  m.  185 

The  exuberant  profufio'n  \vith  which  the  iTl<:)UntaIns  of  the 
ri€w  world  poured  forth  their  treafures  afldnilhed  mankind,  \vho 
had  been  hilheTtb  a'ccaftctne'd  to'  receive  a  pentinous  fupply  of 
the  precious  metals,  from  the  more  fcanty  ftores  contained  In 
the  mines  of  the  ancient  hemifphere;  According  to  principles 
oF 'compiJtatiori,  which  appear  to  be  extremely  }moderatey  ;the 
tjuahtity  of  gold  and  filver  that  has  been  regularly,  entered  in. 
the  ports  of  Spain,  is  equal  in  value  to  four  millions  fterling 
annually,  reckoning  from  the  year  1492,  in;  which  America 
wa,s  di(covered,  to  the  prefent  time.  Imrhenfe  as  this  ium  is, 
the  Spanifh  writers  contend,  that  as  much  more  ought  to  be 
added  to  It,  in  confideration  of  treafure  wliich  has  been  cxtrafted 
from  the  mines,  and  imported  fraudulently  into  Spain  without 
paying  duty  to  the  king.  By  this  account,  Spain  has  drawn 
from  the  new  world  a  fupply  of  wealth,  amounting  to  mQ»;9; 
tlian  two  thoufand  ihillions  of  pounds  fterling.  ,;» 

The.  mines,  which  have  yielded  this  amazing  quantity  of 
ireafure,  ai?  not  worked  at  thcexpenfe  of  the  crown,  or  of 
the  pi^blic.  In  order  to  '  encourage  private  adventurers,  the 
perfon  who  difcovers  and  works  a  new  vein  is  entitltd  to  the 
property  of  it.  Upon  laying  his  claim  to  iuch  a  difcovery 
before  the  governor  bf  the  j/roVince,  a  certain  extent  of  land 
is  meafured  off,  and  a  certain  number  of  Indians  allotted  him, 
under;  the  obligation  of  his  opening  the  mine  within  a  limited 
,tJme,  and  of  his  paying  the  cuftomary  duty  to  the  king  for 
what  it  fhall  produce.  Invited  by  the  facility  with  which  fuch 
grants  are  obtained,  and  encouraged  by  fome  ftriking  examples 
of  fuccefs  in  this  line  of  adventure,  not  only  the  langulne  and 
the  bold,  but  the  tirhid  and  dilfident,  enter  upon  it  with  afto- 
nifhing  ardour.  The  charms  of  this  purfuit,  like  the  rage  for 
deep  play,  are  fo  bewitching,  and  take  Inch  full  pofTeflTion  of 
the  mind,  as  even  to  give  a  new  bent  to  the  natural  temper. 
Under  its  influence  the  cautious  become  enterprifm?,  and  the 
covetous  protufe.  Powerful  as  this  charm  naturally  is,  its  force 
is  augmented  by  the  arts  of  an  order  of  men  known  in  Peru  by 
the  CdOt  name  of  jIvircAdfj  ;  thele- are  comrhonly  pcrfons  of  def- 
.p.erate, fortunes,  who  availirig  themfelves  of  fome  fliill  in  mine- 
ialpgy,,  accompaniedw'Ith  the  infinuating  manner  and  confident 
pretefi.jTions  peculiar  to  projetliors,  addrefs  the  wealthy  and  the 
crgdi^ous  :  by  plaufible  defcriptions  of  the  appearances  which 
they^  have  ilifcbvered  oT'i'fc^  •  veins  hitherto  U'nsxplc«:ed  ;  by 
producing,  when  requiiite,  fpecimens  of  promifmg  ore  ;  by  af- 
firming, with  an  impofing  alTurance,  that  (uccels   is  cercaiuj  and 

B  b 


iBG  OBSERVATIONS    ON    THE 

that  tlie  expcnfe  mud  be  trifling,  they  feldom  fail  to  perfuade  ; 
an  aflociation  is  formed,  a  {tuall  fum  is  advanced  by  each  co- 
partner, the  mine  is  opened,  the  fcarcher  is  entrufted  with  the 
lole  direftion  of'  every  operation,  unforefeen  difHculties  occur, 
new  demands  of  money  are  made,  but  amidfl  a  fucceflion  of 
diiappointments  and  delays,  hope  is  never  extinguifhed,  and 
the  ardour  of  expeftation  hardly  abates. 

Such  is  the  fpirit  that  muft  be  formed,  wherc\'er  the  a£livc 
exertions  of  any  fociety  are  chiefly  employed  in  worliing  mines 
of  gold  and  fi'lver.  No  fpirit  is  more  adverfe  to  fuch  improve- 
ment in  ag.riculture  and  commerce,  as  render  a  nation  really 
opulent. 

But  in  the  Spanifli  colonies,  government  is  ftudious  to  cherifh 
a  fpirit  which  it  fhould  hnvc  laboured  to  deprcfs,  and  by  the 
fanftion  of  its  approbation,  augments  that  inconfiderate  credu- 
iity  which  has  turned  the  aftive  induftry  of  Mexico  and  Peru 
into  fuch  an  improper  channel.  To  this  may  be  imputed  the 
Sender  progrefs  which  Spanifli  America  has  made  during  two 
centuries  and  a  half,  either  in  ufeful  manufaftures.  or  in  thofe 
lucrative  branches  of  cultivation  which  furnifli  the  colonies  of 
other  nations  with  their  ftaple  commodities. 

As  the  a6livity  and  enterprife  of  the  Spaniards  originally  took 
this  direftion,  it  is  now  fo  difficult  to-  bend  them  a  different 
way,  that  akhough  from  various  caufes,  the  gain  of  working 
mines  is  much  decreafcd,  the  fafcination  continues,  and  almoft: 
every  perfon  who  takes  any  aclive  part  in  the  commerce  of 
New-Spain  or  Peru,  is  dill  engaged  in  fome  adventure  of  this- 
kind. 

But  though  mines  are  the  chief  objeft  of  the  Spaniards,  snct 
the  precious  metals  which  thefe  yield  form  the  principal  article 
in  their  commerce  with  America,  the  fertile  countries  which 
they  polfefs  there  abound  with  other  commodities  of  fuch  value 
or  fcHFcity,  as  to  attraft  a  confiderable  degree  of  attention. 
Cochineal  is  a  produftion  almofl  peculiar  to  New-Spain,  of  lueh 
demand  in  commerce,  that  the  fale  is  always  certain,  and  it; 
yields  fuch  profit  as  amply  rewards  the  labour  and  care  em- 
ployed in  rearing  the  curious  infefts  of  which  this  valuable 
drug  is  compoled,  and  preparing  it  for  the  maiket.  Quinquina, 
or  Jefuit's  bark,  the  moft  lalutary  firnplc,  perhaps,  and  of  molt 
refl;or*ative  virtue,  that  Providence  has  made  known  unto  man, 
is  found  only  in  Peru,  to  which  it  affords  a  lucrative  branch  of 
commerce.  The  indigo  of  Guatimala  is  fuperior  in  quality  to 
that  of  any  province  in  America,  and  cultivated  to  a  confidera- 
ble extent.     Cacoa,  though  not   peculiar  to  the  Spanifli   colo- 


GOVERNMENT,    TRADE,   ISc.  .  i^j 

ales,  attains  to  its  liigheft  (late  of  perfeftion  there,  and  fiom 
the  great  confumption  of  cliocolate  in  Europe,  as  well  as  in 
America,  is  a  valuable  commodity.  The  tobacco  of  Cuba,  of 
more  exquifite  flavour  than  any  brought  from  the  new  woild  ; 
the  fugar  raifed  in  that  ifland,  in  Hifpaniola,  and  in  New-Spain, 
together  with  drugs  of  various  kinds,  may  be  mentioned  among 
the  natural  productions  of  America,  which  enricli  the  Spanifli 
commerce.  To  thele  mufl  be  added,  an  article  of  no  inconfi- 
derable  account,  the  exportation  of  hides,  for  which,  as  well 
as  for  many  of  thofa  enumerated,  the  Spaniards  are  more  in- 
debted to  the  wonderful  fertility  of  the  country  than  to  their 
own  forefight  and  induftry.  The  domeftic  animals  of  Europe, 
particularly  horned  cattle,  have  multiplied  in  the  new  world 
with  a  rapidity  which  almoft  exceeds  belief.  A  few  years  after 
the  Spaniards  fettled  there,  the  herds  of  tame  cattle  became  fo 
numerous,  that  their  proprietors,  as  we  have  before  obferved, 
reckoned  them  by  thoufands.  Lels  attention  being  paid  to  them 
as  they  continued  to  increale,  they  were  fullered  to  run  wild, 
and  fpreading  over  a  country  of  boundlels  extent,  under  a  mild 
climate,  and  covered  with  rich  pafture,  their  number  became 
immenfe.  They  range  over  the  vail  plains  which  extend  from 
Buenos  Ayres  towards  the  Andes,  in  herds  of  thirty  or  forty 
thouland  ;  and  the  unlucky  traveller  who  once  falls  in  among 
them,  may  proceed  feveral  days  before  he  can  difentangle  him- 
felf  from  among  the  crowd  that  covers  the  face  of  the  earth, 
and  feems  to  have  no  end.  They  are  hardly  lefs  numerous  in 
New-Spain,  and  in  leveral  other  provinces  ;  they  arc  killed 
merely  for  the  fake  of  their  hides  ;  and  the  flaughter  at  certain 
feafohs  is  fo  great,  that  the  flenC.i  of  the  carcai'es  which  are  left 
in  the  field  would  infeft  the  air,  if  large  packs  of  wild  do?s, 
and  vaft  flocks  of  gallinazos,  or  Am.erican  vultures,  the  mod 
voracious  of  all  the  feathered  kind,  did  not  inftantly  devour 
i^hem.  The  number  of  thofe  hides  exported  in  every  fleet  to 
Europe  is  very  great,  and  is  a  lucrative  branch  of  commerce. 

Almoft  all  thele  may  be  confidered  as  ftaple  commodities  pe- 
culiar to  America,  and  different,  if  we  except  that  laft  men- 
tioned,  from  the  produftions  of  Spain. 

When  the  importation  into  Spain  of  thofe  various  articles 
from  her  colonies  firft  became  aftive  and  confiderable,  her  in- 
terior induftry  and  manufaftures  were  in  a  ftate  io  profperous, 
that  with  the  produft  of  thele  fl:ie  was  able  both  fOT:;u:chare  the 
commodities  of  the  new  world,  and  to  aniwer  its  growincr 
demands.      Under   the    reigns   of  Ferdinand  and    li'abelia,    and 

B   b    2 


i88  OBSERVATIONS  OS'  THE 

Charles  X .  Sp;un  was  one  of  the   mod  induRrious  countries  in 
Europe  ;   her  manufii^lures  in  wool,   and  flax,   and  filk,  were  fo 
'  extenfivc,   as    not    only    to    furnifii    what    was  lufficient  for  her 
'  own    confumption,     but    to    afford    a    furplus  for  expoitation. 
"^When  a  market    for   them,   formerly  unknown,   and   to    which 
"  file  alone  had  accets,   opened  in  America,    fhe    had    recourfe    to 
her     domeftic     ftore,    and    found    there    an    abundant    fupply. 
This  new    employment   mufl  naturally   have  added    vivacity  to 
the   fpirit    of  induftry  ;   nouriflied    and    invigorated    by   it,   the 
manufaflures,   the  population,   and   wealth  of   Spain  might  have 
gone  on  increafing  in  the   fame   proportion    with    the  growth  of 
her   colonies ;  but   various    caules    prevented    this.      The    fam? 
thing    happens    to    nations    as   to   individuals.      Wealth,   which 
flows  in  gradually,   and  with    moderate  increafe,   feeds   and  nou- 
rifhes  that  aftivity  which  is  friendly  to  commerce,   and   calls  it 
forth   into    vigorous   and    well-conduced  exertions-,  but  when 
opulence  pours  in  fuddenly,   and  with  too  full  a  ftream,  it  over- 
turns all  iober  plans   of   induflry,   and    brings  along    with   it    a 
■'taflc  for  what  is  wild  and    extravagant,  and    daring   in   bufinels 
■   or   in  aftion.      Such  was  the  great  and  fudden  augmentation    of 
power  and  revenue  that  the  poRefTion  of  America  brought  into 
Spain  •,  and  fome  fymptoms  of  its  pernicious  influence  upon  X.\\p 
political  operations  of   that  monarchy    foon  began  to  appear. 

When  Philip  II.  afcended  the  Spanifh  tlironc,  with  talents 
far  inferior  to  thofe  of  his  father,  and  remittances  from  the  co- 
lonies became  a  regular  and  confiderable  branch  of  revenue, 
the  fatal  operation  of  this  rapid  change  in  the  flate  of  the  king- 
dom, both  on  the  monarch  and  his  people,  was  at  once  con^ 
fpicuous.  Philip,  poffefTing  Uiat  fpirit  of  unceafing  afTiduity, 
which  often  charatlcrifes  the  ambition  of  men  of  moderate  ta- 
lents, entertained  fuch  an  high  opinion  of  his  own  refourcesi, 
that  he  thought  nothing  too  arduous  for  him  to  undertake;  fhut 
up  himfelf  in  the  folitude  of  the  efcqrial,  he  troubled  and 
annoyed  all  the  nations  around  him.  Pie  waged  open  \var 
with  the  Dutch  and  Englilh  ;  he  encouraged  and  aided  a 
rebellious  f^ftion  in  France;  he  conquered  Portugal,  and  main- 
tained armies  and  garrifons  in  It.dy,  Africa,  and  both  the 
Indies.  By  fuch  a  multiplicity  of  great  and  complicated  ope- 
rations, purfued  with  ardour  durmg  the  courle  of  a  long 
reign,  Spain  was  drained  both  of  men  and  money.  Under  the 
ivciik  adir.iniflration  of  his  fuccelTor,  Philip  ill.  the  vigour  of  the 
nation  continued  to  decreale,  and  funk  into  the  lowed  decline, 
when. the  inconfiUerate  bigotry  of  that  monarch  expelled  at  otiC(ji 


GOVERNMENT,  TRADE,  C3c.  189 

near  a  million  of  his  moft  induftrious  fubjeas,  at  the  ycry  time 
when  the  exhaufted  (late  of  the  kingdom  required  feme  extrV 
ordinary  exertion  of  political  wildom  to  augment  its  numbers, 
and  to  revive  its  flrength.  Early  in  the  feventeenlh  centiiry, 
Spain  felt  fuch  a  diminution  in  the  number  of  her  people,  that 
from  inability  to  recruit  her  armies,  (he  was  obliged,  to  cpntra.d 
her  operations  ;  her  flourifliing  m^nufaftures  were  fallen  .^i^nto 
decay  ;  her  fleets,  which  had  been  the  terror  of  all  Europe, 
were  ruined  ;  her  extenfive  foreign  commerce  was  loft.  ;  the 
trade  bet u- eon  different  parts  of  iier  own  dominions  was  inter- 
.  vupted,  and  the  fliips  which  attempted  to  carry  it  on,  were 
taken  and  plundered  by  enemies  whom  flae  once  deipiled. 
Even  agriculture,  the  primary  object  of  induilry  in  every  prof- 
perous  ftate,  was  neglcfted,  and  one  of  the  mofl  fertile  coun- 
tries in  Europe  hardly  raifed  what  was  fpfficient  for  the  fupport 
of  its  own  inhabitants. 

In  proportion  as  the  population  and  manufuflures  of  Spain 
declined,  the  demands  of  her  colonies  continued  to  increafe. 
The  Spaniards,  like  their  monarchs,  intoxicated  with  the 
wealth  which  poured  in  annually  upon  them,  deferted  the 
paths  of  induftry,  to  which  they  had  been  accuftorned,  and 
repaired  with  eagernefs  to  thole  regions  from  whence  this 
opulence  iffued.  Bv  this  rage  of  emigration,  another  drain 
was  opened,  and  the  flrength  of  the  colonies  augmented  by  ex- 
haufting    that  of  the  mother  country. 

Spain,  thinned  of  people,  and  decreafing  in  induftry,  was 
unable  to  fupply  the  growing  demands,  of  her  colonies  ;  fiie  had 
recouife  to  her  neighbours  ;  the  manufafturcs  of  the  Low 
Countries  of  England,  of  France,  and  of  Italy,  which  her 
wants  called  into  exiftence,  or  animated  with  new  vivacity, 
furnifhed  in  abundance  whatever  fhe  required.  In  vain  did 
the  fuful  ;ii"iental  law,  concerning  the  exclufton  of  foreigners 
from  tr.Kic  with  America,  oppole  this  innovation.  NecefTity, 
more  powerful  than  any  ftatute,  defeated  its  operations,  and 
conftrainsd  the  Spaniards  themlelves  to  concur  in  eluding  it. 
The  Ei'TJifli,  the  French,  and  Dutch,  relying  on  the  fidelity 
and  honour  of  Spanifh  merchants,  who  lend  their  names  to 
cover  the  deceit,  continue  to  (end  out  their  manufaftures  to 
America,  and  received  the  exorbitant  price  for  which  they  are 
fold  there,  either  in  fpecie,  or  in  the  rich  commodities  of  the 
new  w^orld.  Neither  the  dread  of  danger,  nor  the  allurement 
of  profit,  ever  induced  a  SpaniQi  faftor  to  betray  or  defraud  the 
perfon  who  confided  in  him  ;  and  that  probity  wliich  is  the 
pride   and    diIlir.£lion    of  the    nation,   contributes    to    its    ruin. 


190  0  BSE  RVATIO  NS  0  N  THE 

The  treafure  of  the  new  world  may  therefore  be  faid  not  to  be- 
long to  Spain  :  before  it  reaches  Europe,  it  is  anticipated  as 
the  price  of  goods  purchafed  from  foreigners. 

Thus  the  poffefiions  of  Spain  in  America  have  not  proved  a 
fource  of  population  and  of  wealth  to  her,  in  the  fame  manner 
as  thofe;  of  other  nations.  In  the  countries  of  Europe,  where 
the  fpirit  of  induflry  fubfifts  in  full  vigour,  every  per  fan 
Icttled  in  fuch  colonics  as  are  fimilar  in  their  fuuation  to  thofc 
of  Spain,  is  luppofed  to  give  employment  to  three  or  four  at 
home  in  fupplynig  his  wants.  Bai  wherever  the  mother  coun- 
try cannot  afford  this  lupply,  eveiy  emigrant  may  be  confidered 
as  a  citizen  loft  to  the  community,  and  ftrangcrs  muft  reap 
all  the  benefit  of  anlwering  his  demands.  Such  has  been  the 
internal  ibite  of  Spain  from  the  dole  of  the  h>aeenth  century, 
and  fuch  her  inability  to  lupply  the  growing  wants  of  her 
colonies. 

The  f.ital  effefts  of  the  difproportion  between  their  demands, 
and  her  CH])acity  of  aniwering  them,  have  been  much  increafcd 
by  the  mode  in  which  Spain  has  endeavoured  to  regulate  the 
intercourfe  between  the  mother  country  and  the  colonies.  It 
is  from  her' idea  of  monopolizing  the  trade  with  America,  and 
debarring  her  fubjecls  there  from  any  communication  with 
foreigners,  that  all  her  jealous  and  fyftematic  arrangements 
have  ariien  ;  thefe  are  fo  fiMgular  in  their  nature  and  conlequen- 
ces,  as  to  merit  a  particular  explanation.  In  order  to  lecure 
the  monopoly  at  which  The  aimed,  Spain  did  not  vefl  the  trade 
with  her  colonies  in  an  exclufive  company,  a  plan  which  has 
been  adopted  by  nations  more  commercial,  and  at  a  period  when 
mercantile  policy  was  an  objeft  of  greater  attention,  and  ought 
to  have  been  better  underflood.  The  Dutch  gave  up  the 
w-hole  trade  with  their  colonies,  both  in  the  Ejft  and  Weft- 
Indies,  to  exciufive  companies.  The  EngliRi,  the  French,  and 
the  Danes,  have  imitated  their  exa\nple  with  refpect  to  the 
Eaft-Indian  commerce,  and  the  two  former  have  laid  a  fimilar 
reftraint  upon  iome  branches  of  their  trade  with  the  new 
world.  The  wit  of  man  cannot,  perhaps,  deviie  a  method  for 
ch:cking  the  progrefs  of  induftry  and  population  in  a  new 
colony  more  eflcttual  than  this.  T'ne  intercft  of  the  colony, 
and  of  the  exclulivc  company,  muft  in  evesy  point  be  diame- 
trically oppofite  ;  and  as  the  latter  pclTefles  (uch  advantages  in 
this  unequal  conteft,  that  it  can  preicribe  at  pleaiure  the  terms 
*bf  intercourfe,  the  iormer  muft  not  only  buy  dear  and  fell 
cheap,   but    rnuft   i'uffcr  the  mortification  of  having  the  incrcafe 


GOVERNMENT,  TRADE,  &c  igj 

of  its  furplus   flock  difcouraged  by  thofe  very  peri'ons  to  whom 
alone  it  can  diipofe  of  its  pioduftions.* 

Spain,  it  is  probable,  was  preferved  from  frilling  into  this 
error  in  policy,  by  the  high  ideas  which  {lie  e:irly  forrrte!d''^ott- 
cernincr  the  riches  of  the  new  world.  Gold  and  filver  Werfe' 
commodities  of  too  high  a  value  to  veil  a  monopoly  of  tVietn 
in  private  hands.  The  crown  wifhed  to  retain  the  direftion  6f 
a  commerce  fo  inviting,  and  in  order  to  fecure  that,  ordained 
the  cargo  of  every  fhip  fitted  out  for  America,  to  be  inlpefted 
by  the  officers  of  the  Cafa  dc  Contratacion  in  Seville,  before 
it  could  receive  a  licence  to  make  the  voyage  ;  and  that  on  its' 
return,  a  i-eport  of  the  commodities  which  it  brought  fhould 
be  made  to  the  fame  board,  before  it  could  be  permitted  to 
land  them.  In  confequence  of  this  regulation,  all  the  trade  of 
Spain  with  the  new  world  centered  originally  in  the  port  of 
Seville,  and  was  gradually  brought  into  a  form,  in-  which  it 
has  been  condufted  with  little  variation  from  the  middle  of  the 
fixteenth  century,  almoft  to  our  own  times.  For  the  greater 
fecurity  of  the  valuable  cargoes  fent  to  America,  as  well  as"  for 
the  more  eafy  prevention  of  fraud,  the  commerce  of  Spain, 
with  its  colonies,  was  carried  on  by  fleets  which  failed  under 
ftrong  convoys  ;  thefe  fleets  confifted  of  two  fquadrons,  one 
diftinguiflied  by  the  name  of  the  galleons,  the  other  by  that  of 
the  fluta,  are  equipped  annually.  Formerly  they  took  their 
departure  from  Seville,  but  as  the  port  of  Cadiz  has  been 
found  more  commodious,  they  have  iaiied  from  it  fince  the 
year  i  -y  20. 

The  galleons  defbined  to  fupply  Terra  Firma,  and  the 
kingdoms  of  Peru  an  Chili,  with  almofl  every  article  of  luxury 
or  necelTary  confumption  that  an  opulent  people  can  demand, 
touch  firfl;  at  Carthagena,  and  then  at  Porto  Bello  ;  to  the  for- 
mer, the  merchants  of  Santa-Martha,  Garaccas,  the  new  king- 
dom of  Granada,  and  feveral  other  provinces  refort ;  the  latter 
is  the  great  mart  for  the  rich  commerce  of  Peru  and  Chili, 
At  the  lealon  when  the  galleons  are  expcfted,  the  produft  of  all 
the  mines  in  thele  two  kingdoms,  together  with  their  other  x'alu- 
able  commodities,  is  tranfported  by  lea  to  Panama  ;  from  thence, 
as  foon  as  the  appearance  of  the  fleet  from  Europe  is  announc- 
ed, they  are  conveyed  aerofs  the  iflhmus,  partly  on  nmlcs, 
and  partly  dov/n  the  river  Chagre  to  Porto  Bello.  This  paltry 
village,   the   climate   of  whieh,   from    the    pernicious   union    of 

*  Smith's  Inquiry,  ii.   171. 


i98  OBSERVATIONS  ON  fllE 

exceflive  heat,  continual  moifture,  and  the  putrid  exhalations! 
arifing  from  a  rank  foil,  is  more  fatal  to  life  than  any  perhaps' 
in  the  known  v.'orld,  is  immediately  filled  with  people.  From 
being  the  refidence  of  a  few  negroes  and  mulattoes,  and  of  a 
miferable  garrifon  relieved  every  thiee  months,  Poito  Bello 
affumes  fuddenly  a  very  different  afpe£l,  and  its  flreets  are. 
crowded  with  opulent  merchants  from  every  corner  of  Peiai^ 
and  the  adjacent  provinces ;  a  fair  is  opened,  the  wealth  of 
America  is  exchanged  for  the  manufaftures  of  Europe ;  and 
during  its  prefcribed  term,  as  we  have  before  obferved,  the 
richeft  traffic  on  the  face  of  the  earth  is  begun  and  finifiied, 
■with  that  fimplicity  of  tranlaftion  and  that  unbounded  confi- 
dence Vvhich  accompanies  extenfive  commerce.  The  flota  holds 
its  courle  to  Vera  Cruz,  The  treafures  and  commodities  of 
New-Spain,  and  the  depending  provinces,  which  were  depofit- 
ed  at  Pucbla  de  los  Angeles,  in  expe6lation  of  its  arrival,  are 
carried  thither,  and  the  commercial  operations  of  Vera  Cruz, 
condufted  in  the  fame  manner  with  thole  of  Porto  Bello,  are 
inferior  to  thefn  only  in  importance  and  value.  Both  fleets, 
as  foon  as  they  have  completed  their  cargoes  from  America, 
rendezvous  at  the  Havunaah,  and  return  in  company  to 
ilurope. 

The  trade  of  Spain  xvith  her  colonies,  while  thus  fettered 
2nd  reflrifted,  came  necelfarily  to  be  condufted  with  the  fame 
fpirit,  and  upon  the  fame  principles  as  that  of  an  exclufive 
company.-  Being  confined  to  a  fingle  port,  it  was  of  courfe 
tihrown  into  a  few  hands,  and  almolt  the  whole  of  it  was 
gradually  engroffed  by  a  finall  number  of  wealthy  houfes,  for- 
merly in  Seville  and  now  in  Cadiz.  Thefe,  by  combirtationsi 
winch  they  can  eafily  form,  may  altogether  prevent  that  compe- 
tition which  preis-rves  commodities  at  their  natural  price  ;  and 
by  afting  in  concert,  to  which  they  are  prompted  by  their 
mutual  intereft,  they  may  raife  and  lower  the  value  of  them 
at  pleafure ;  in  conlequence  of  this,  the  price  of  European 
goods  in  America  is  always  high,  and  often  exorbitant.  A 
hundred,  two  hundred,  and  even  three  hundred  per  cent,  are 
piofits  not  uncommon  in  the  Commerce  of  Spain  with  her 
colonies.  From  tiic  lame  ingrofiing  fpirit  it  frequently  happens, 
that  traders  of  the  fecond  order,  whofe  warehoules  do  not  con- 
tain a  complete  uirortment  of  commodities  for  the  American 
niaiket,  cannot  purchafc  from  the  more  opulent  merchants  fuch 
goods  as  they  want,  at  a  lower  price  than  that  for  which  they 
are  lold  in  r.he  colonies.  With  the  fame  vigilant  jealoufy  that 
an  cxclufi;e  ccn5i>anv  o'uardL^  aiiainll   thq   intrufion   of  the    free 


GO'VEkNMENT,    TRADE,   &c.  193 

trSder,  whofe  overgl-own  monopolifts  endeavour  to  Check,  the 
progrels  of  every  one  whofe  incroadimerits  they  drcud.*  This 
reftrdirit  of  the  American  commerce  to  one  port,  not  only  afFcfts 
its  domeflic  ftate,  but  limits  its  foreign  operations.  A  rhonopo- 
lift  may  acquire  more,  and  certainly  will  hazard  lels  by  a  con- 
fined trade  which  yields  exorbitant  profit,  than  by  an  eJctenHve 
commerce  in  which  he  receives  only  a  moderate  return  of  gain.- 
It  is  often  his  intercfl  not  to  enlarge,  but  circunilcribc  the  fpheVe* 
of  his  aftivity,  and  inftead  of  calling  forth  more  vigorous  ex- 
ertions of  commercial  induftry,  it  may  be  the  objcft  of  his  at^ 
tention  to  check  and  fet  bounds  to  tliem.  By  fome  fuch  maxim 
tlie  mercantile  policy  of  Spain  feemS  to  have  regulated  its  inter- 
courfe  with  America;  Inftead  of  furnifiiing  the  colonies  with 
European  goods  in  luch  quantity  as  might  render  both  the  price 
and  the  piofit  moderate;  the  merchants  of  Seville  and  Cadiz 
leem  to  have  lupplied  them  with  a  fparing  hand,  that  the  eager- 
nefs  of  competition  amongft  cuftomers  obliged  to  purchafe  in  a 
fcanty  market,  might  enable  the  Spanifh  faftorS  to  difpole  of 
their  cargoes  with  exorbitant  gain*  About  the  middle  of  the 
laft  century,  when  tlie  exclufive  trade  to  America  from  Seville 
was  in  its  mofl  flourifhing  ftate,  the  burden  of  the  two  united 
fquadrons  of  the  galleons  and  flota  did  not  exceed  twenty-fevea 
thoufand  five  hundred  tons»  The  fupply  which  luch  a  fleet 
could  carry,  muft  have  been  Very  inadequate  to  the  demands  of 
thole  populous  and  extenfive  colonies,  which  depended  upon  it: 
for  all  the  luxuries,  and  many  of  the  necefl'aries  of  life. 

Spain  early  became  fenfible  of  her  declenfion  from  her  f<irmer 
profperiiy,  and  many  reipcftable  and  virtuous  citizens  employed 
their  thoughts  in  devifing  meihods  for  reviving  the  decaying  in- 
duftry  and  commerce  of  their  country.  From  the  violence  of 
the  remedies  propofed,  it  is  evident  how  defperate  and  fatal 
the  malady  appeared. 

Befides  wild  projefts,  many  fchemes,  well  digefted  arid  bene- 
ficial, were  fuggefted  ;  but  under  the  feeble  monarchs  with 
whom  the  reign  of  the  Auftnan  line  in  Spain  clofed,  incapacity 
and  indeciTion.are  conlpicuous  in  every  department  of  govern- 
liient..  Inftead  of  taking  for  their  rnodel  the  atlive  ad rriinift ra- 
tion of  Charles  V.  they  affefted  to  imitate  the  cautious  procraf* 
tinating  wifdorh  of  Philip  -IL  and  deftiiute  of  his  talents,  they 
deliberated  perpetually,  but   determined   nothing.     No   rem,edy 

*  Soiitri's    inquiry,  ii.  iji. 

^   ■:;     IV,  C  c 


rgi  OBSERVATIONS    ON    THE 

y/3S  applied  to  the  evils  under  which  the  national  commerce:, 
domcftic  as  well  3S  f(>reign,  languifhed.  Thefe  evils  continued 
to  incre.ife,  luid  Spain,  with  dominions  more  cxtenfive  and  more 
opuleni  ihau  any  European  fl^te,  pofTefTed  neither  vigour,  nor 
nioncj',  nor  indnlliy.  At  Ic-ngth  the  violence  of  a  great  ra- 
tion;il  convulUon  roufed  the  (lumbering  genius  of  Spain.  Thcr 
eflorts  of  the  two  contending  parties  in  the  civd  war.  kindled 
by  the  dil'pute  concerning  t!ic  fucceJRon  of  the  crovvn  at  the, 
beginning  of  t!iis  century,  ciillcd  forth,  in  fome  degree,  the  an- 
cient ipirit  and  vigour  of   the  nation. 

As  fbon  as  the  Bombons  obtained  quiet  pofFelTion  of  the 
tlirone,  they  difccrnod  this  cliangc  in  the  fpirit  of  the  people, 
and  took  advantage  of  it.  It  was  the  firfl  objeft  of  Philip  V, 
to  (upDrcfs  an  innovstion  which  had  crept  in  during  the  couife 
of  the  war,  and  had  overturned  the  whole  fyflein  of  the  Spanifh 
commerce  with  America.  Tlie  Englilh  and  Dutch,  by  their  fu- 
periority  in  naval  power,  having  acquired  iuch  command  of  the 
fea,  as  to  cut  off  all  intercourfe  between  Spain  and  her  colonies  ; 
SfKiin,  in  order  to  furnifli  her  lubjcfts  in  America  with  thote 
ne'ccffaries  of  life,  without  which  tliey  could  not  exift,  and  as 
tiie  only  means  of  receiving  from  thence  any  part  of  their  trea- 
furc,-  departed  fo  far  from  the  ufual  rigour  of  its  maxims,  as  to 
open  the  trade  with  Peru  to  her  allies  the  French.  The  mer- 
chants of  St.  Malo,  to  whom  Louis  XIV.  granted  the  privilege 
of  this  lucrative  corrtmercc,  engaged  in  it  with  vigour,  and  car- 
ried it  on  upon  principles  very  different  from  thofe  of  the  Spa^ 
niards.  They  fupplicd  Peru  with  Europcijn  commodities  at  a 
moderate  price,  and  not  in  ftinted  quantity.  The  goods  which 
they  inipofted  v/ere  conveyed  to  every  province  of  SpaniHi- 
America  in  fuch  abundance  as  had  never  been  known  in  any 
former  period.  If  this  intercourfe  had  been  continued,  the 
exportation  of  European  commodities  from  Spain  muft  have 
cealcd,  and  the  dependence  of  the  colonics  on  the  mother 
country  have  been  at  an  end.  The  mofl  peremptory  injur.ftions 
Vvcre  therefore  ilfucd,  prohibiting  the  admilTion  of  foreign  vef- 
iels  into  any  port  of  Peru  or  Chili,  and  a  Spanifli  fquadron  was 
employed  to  clear  the  South  lea  of  intruders,  whofe  aid  waS' 
no  longer  ncceflary. 

F)Ut  thou'i^h  on  the  ccflFation  of  the  war,  which  was  termi- 
nated by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  Spain  obtained  relief  from  one 
incroaeumcnt  on  her  commercial  fyllem,  flie  was  expofcd  to 
another,  which  fhe  deemed  hardly  lels  pernicious.  As  an  in- 
ducement  that    might   prevail  with   Queen    Anne    to    conclude 


GOVERN  :'I£  NT,    TRADE,   &c.  195 

a  peace,  which  France  and  Spain  dcfired  with  equal  ardour, 
Philip  V.  not  only  conveyed  to  Great-Britain  tlie  Ailiento,  or 
contraft  for  iupplvirig  (he  Spanifli  colonics  wiih  negroes, 
•which  had  formerly  been  enjoyed  by  France,  but  grnntcd  it,  the 
more  extraordinary  privilege  of  lending  annually  to  the  fair 
of  Porto  Bello,  a  fliip  of  five  hundred  tons,  laden  with  Eu- 
ropean commodities.  In  confequence  of  this,  Britifh  factories 
were  eilahlilhed  at  Carthagena,  Panama,  Vera  Cruz,  Buenos 
Ayres,  and  other  Spanilii  fettlements.  The  veil  with  which 
Spain  had  hitherto  covered  the  ftatc  and  traniaiiiions  of  her 
colonies  was  removed.  The  agents  of  a  rival  nation,  refidinf 
in  tlie  towns  of  molt  extenfive  trade,  and  of  chief  rciort,  had 
the  beft  opportunities  of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  interior 
condition  of  the  American  provinces,  of  oblcrving  their  dated, 
and  occafional  wants,  and  of  knowing  what  commudities  nii'^ht 
be  imported  into  tliem  with  tlie  greatcft  advantage.  In  conie- 
Quencc  of  information  fo  authentic  and  expeditious,  the  mer- 
chants of  Jamaica  and  other  Engliili  colonies  who  traded  to  the 
Spanifu  main,  were  enabled  to  ailort  ar.d  proportion  their 
cargoes  to  exattly  to  the  demands  of  the  m.arket,  that  the  con- 
traband commerce  was  carried  on  with  a  facility,  and  to  an 
extent  unknown  in  any  former  period.  This,  however,  was 
no:  the  moft  fatal  coniequence  of  tlie  AfTiento  to  tlie  trade 
cf  Spain.  The  agents  of  the  Britifli  South  fea  company,  under 
cover  of  the  importation  which  they  were  authoriled  to  make 
by  the  fliip  lent  annually  to  Porto  Bcllo,  poured  in  their 
commodities  on  the  Spanifh  continent,  without  limitation  or 
reftraint.  Inftsad  of  a  ihip  of  five  hundred  tons,  as  fliipu- 
lait-d  in  the  treaty,  they  ufualiy  employed  one  whlcii  ex- 
ceeded nine  hundred  tons  in  burden  ;  fhe  was  accompanied 
by  two  or  three  fmalicr  velTels,  which  mooring  in  lome 
neighbouring  creek,  lupplied  her  cUmdeftinely  witlx  frefit 
baL-s  of  goods,  to  replace  fuch  as  were  fold.  The  infpecLors 
of  the  fair,  and  officers  of  the  revenue,  gained  by  cxt>rbtunt 
prcfents,  connived  at  the  fraud.  Thus,  partly  by  the  opera- 
tions of  the  company,  and  paitly  by  the  activity  of  pri- 
vate interlopers,  almofl;  the  whole  ir?.de  of  Spanifh-America 
was  ingroffed  by  foreigners.  I'hc  immeiife  commerce  of  the 
g-iUeons,  formerly  the  pride  oF  Sp-iin,  and  the  envy  of 
other  nations,  funk  to  nothing,  aiid  the  fquudron  itielf  re- 
duced from  fifteen  thouland  to  two  thouiaad.  tons,  irived 
hardly  any  purpolc  but  to  letch  home  lac  royal  revenue 
grifing    Iroin   the    fifth    on    filver. 

C  c  2 


196  OBSERVATIONS    ON    THE 

While    Spnin    obferved   thofe    incroachmcnts,    and    fcU    their 
pernicious  cffefts,  it   was  impoiTiHle  not  to  make  fome  efFort    to 
reftrain  them.      Her  fiifl  expedient  was'to  ftation  (liips  tVf  force, 
under  tlie  appellation  of  guarda  cdftas^'nipon  the  coafts  of   thole 
provinces,     to     which     interlopers     tn'oft     frequently    rfeforftd. 
Some  check    wns   bv  tliis  means  given   to   the    pfogrefs    of  the 
contraband    trade,    though    in    dominions    fo    extenfive.   and    )o 
acccflible  by  fea,  hardly  any  number  of  cruilers    was    JufRcient 
to  guard  againft  its  inroads  in   every  quarter.      This  interruption 
of  an   intcrcourfe    which   had    been   carried   on    with    fo    much 
facility,  thr.t  the  merchants  in  the    Britifli    colonies    were   accul- 
tomed  to  confider  it   almoft   as  an  allowed  branch  of  commerce, 
excited    murmurs    and    complaints,     Thele    authorifed    in    lome 
meafure,  and  rendered  more  interefling,  by  leveraj    unjuftihabl? 
afts    of    violence   committed    by    the    captains    of    the    Spanifli 
guarda  coflas,  precipitated  Great-Britain  into  a  war  with  Spain, 
in  confcqucnce  of  which  the  latter  obtained    a  finalreleafe'fiom 
the  AfTiento,  and  was  left  at  liberty  to  regulate  the  commerce  t)f 
her  colonies,  without  being  reflrained  by  any   engagerpent    witli 
a   foreign   power.  '    '"'^ ' 

As  the  formidable  incroachments  of  the  Englifli  btl  tli^'Ame- 
rican   trade  had  difcovered  to  the   Spaniards  the   vaiit 'confumpr 
tion  of  European  goods  in  their  colonies,   and    tiught  th.cm'  the 
advantage  of  accommodating  their  importations'to   the  occafional 
demand  of  the  various  provinces,  they   percei^'ed  the   n'eceflity 
of  devifmg   fome  method  of  fupplying  their    colonies,   different 
from    their    ancient    one,   of  fending    thither    periodical     fleets. 
That  iTiodc  of  communication    had    been    found    f»ot   ojijy  to  be 
upccrlain,   as  the  dep^^f-Ue  of  the   galleons  and   fiota   was  Tome- 
times  retarded  by  various  accidents,  and  often  prevented   by  the 
wars  which  raged  in  Europe  ;  but  long  cjfperience  had  flicwn   it 
to  be  ill    adapted   to   nfFord  America  a  regular  and  timely  fupply 
pf   what  it    wanted.       The   fcarcity    of   European    goods   in    the 
Spanifli    {ettlements    frequently   became    cxcefTive  ;    their  price 
rofe    to   an   enormous   heiehl  ;    the    vigilant    cye'^of    mercantile 
attention   did    not   fail    to   oblerve    this   favouiable  opportunity, 
an  ample  fupply  was  poriired   in  liy  interlopers  from  tVicEnglifi-!, 
the    French,    and    Dutch    iflands  ;     and     when    the    galleons    at 
length  arrived,   they  found  the  mi^ikcts  lo  glutted  by   (his  illicit 
commcicc,  thiit  there  was  no  demand  for  the  corriirnoai^'ies  with 
AvhiPh- 'ti^ey    wis're    loaded.       In  'oVci'er  to    remedy  th'is',^  Spain 
Inas    pertfiined    a     confrderable'    paVt'''of    her     comnVertc^'   with 
America    td  'He   carried  on  by  'rcgiilvr  fhips.      "^hefS^ai't^  fitted 
out 'dili-fn'^the  intervals  bet''t\'<^fcw'^'h'e  Aatcd  fc'afbiiV  {vfnsn  the 


GOVERNMENT,   TRADE,  &r.  .  197 

galleons  and  flota  fail,  by  merchants  in  Seville  or  Xacliz.,^iapon 
obtaining  a  licence  from  tlie  council  of  the  indies,  for  which 
they  pay  a  very  high  premium,  and  are  deftined  for  thofe  ports 
in  America  where  any  extraordinary  demand  is  ft^refejen  or 
cxpeftcd.  Bv  this  expedient,  luch  a  re,^ular  fupply  of  the 
commodities,  for  which  there  is  the  grcatcft  demand,  is  convey- 
ed to  the  American  market,  that  ihc  interloper  is  no  longer 
siUured  by  the  fame  profpeft  of  cxceflTive  gain,  or  the  people  in 
thfircolonies  urged  by  the  fame  neceffity  to  engage  in  the  hazard- 
ous adventures  of  contraband  trade. 

la  proportion  as  experience  manifeflcd  the  advantages  of 
carrying  on  trade  in  this  mode,  the  number  of  regifler  fliips 
increaied,  and  at  length,  in  the  year  1748,  the  galleons,  af(er 
having  been  employed  upwards  of  two  centuries,  were  finally 
Jaid  alidc.  From  that  period  there  lias  been  no  intercourfe  with 
Chili  and  Peru  but  by  fingle  fhips,  difpaiched  from  time  to  time  ' 
as  occafion  requires,  and  when  the  merchants  expeft  a  profita- 
ble market  will  open.  Thefe  flnips  fail  round  cape  Horn,  and 
convey  direftly  to  the  ports  in  the  South  lea  the  productions 
and  manufaftures  of  Europe,  for  which  the  people  fettled  in 
thofe  <;ountries  were  formerly  obliged  to  repair  to  Porto  Bello 
or  Panama.  Thefe  tow^ns,  as  has  been  formerly  oblerved,  mull 
gradually  decline  when  deprived  of  that  commerce  to  which 
they  owed  their  profperity.  This  diiadvantagc,  however,  is 
more  than  compcnfated  by  the  beneficial  effo6ts  of  this  neu-- 
arrangement,  as  the  whole  continent  of  South-America  receives 
new  lupplies  of  European  commodities  with  fo  mucli  regularity, 
and  in  luch  abundance,  as  muft  not  only  contribute  greatly 
to  liic  happinefs,  but  increafe  the  population  of  all  the  colo- 
nies  fettled  there.  But  as  all  the  rcgiiier  Oiips  deflined  for  the 
South  feas  muft  ftill  take  their  departure  from  Cadiz,  and  are 
obliged  to  return  thither,  this  branch  of  the  Ainerican  com- 
merce, even  in  its  new  and  improved  form,  continues  fubjeft 
to  the  rcftraints  of  a  fpecies  of  monopoly,  and  feels  all  the 
pernicious  cfFe^is  of  it. 

Among  the  new  taftcs  which  tlie  people  of  EiJrope  have 
acquired,  in  conlequcnce  of  importing  the  proriu6iions  of 
thofe  countries  which  they  conquered  in  America,  that  for 
chocolate  is  one  of  the  mofc  univerfal.  The  ufe  of  thi^  liquor 
made  with  a  paftc  formed  of  the  nut  or  almond  of  the  cococa 
tree,  compounded  with  various  ingredients,  the  Spaniards  firfh 
learned  from  the  Mexicans;  and  it  has  appeared  to  them,  and 
to  the  otlier  European  nations,  lo  palatable,  io  nourifliing, 
and  fo  wholelome,  that   it  has  become   a   commercial  article  of 


198  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE 

confideroble  importance.     The   cocoa   tree   grows   fpontaneouflv 
in    fcveral    parts   of  the   torrid    zone,  but   the  nuts   of  the  bed 
Mjuality,    next   to   thofc    of    Guaiimala,    on    the    South    fea,    are 
produced    in    the    rich   plains  of  Caraccas,  a  province  of  Terra 
Firm<i.      In    confcquence   of    thus  acknowledged    fupaiority    in 
the    quality    of  cocoa   in    that    province,   and  its  communication 
v.ith    the   Atlantic,   which    ficilitatci  the  conveyance  to  Euroj)C, 
the  culture  of  the   cocoa    there   is   more   eslcufive    than    in    any 
diftrift   of  America.      But    the    Dutch,   by  the  vicinity   of  their 
fctllemcntr.   in    the   Cniall    iflands  of  Curazoa  and  Buen-Ayrc,   to 
tiie    coaft    of    Caraccas,    gradually    cngrolTcd     the    grcateft    part 
of  the    cocoa    trade.      The    traffic   with   the  n)othcr  country    for 
this  valuable  commodity   cealcd    almoft;   entirely,  and    fuch  was 
the  fupinc  negligence  of  the  Spaniards,  or    the    defofts  of  their 
commercial    arrangements,    that    they    were    obliged    to    receive 
from    the    hands    of    foreigners    tliis    produ£lion    of    their    own 
colonics  at  an  exorbitant  price.      In  order  to  remedy  an    evil   no 
lefs   dilgracerul    than    pernicious    to    his    fubjctls,   Philip    V.   in 
the    year    5728,    granted    to    a    body   of  merchants   an  exclufivc 
right  to  the  commerce  with  Caraccas   and  Cumana,   on  condition 
oi  their  employing,  at   their   own    expenfe,   a  lulHcicnt    number 
cf  armed    vefTcls   to    clear    the    coaft    of  interlopers.      Tliis    (o- 
ciety,   dillinguiflicd    fometimes    by    the    name    of    the    Company 
of  Guipuicoa,   from  the  province  of  Spain  in    which    it    is    cTta- 
bHfned,  and    fometimes   by   that   of  the    Company    of  Caraccas, 
from   the  -diftricl    of  America    to    which    it  trades,  has   carried 
on  its   operations    \v\lh    fuch    vigour  and  fuccels,   that    Spain  has 
recovered    an  important    biatich    of  commerce,  which    Ihe   had 
fulFered  to  be  wrefledfrom  her,  and  is  plentifully   fuppUed  with 
an   aiticic   of  extenfive    conlumption   at   a  moneriite  piicc.      Not 
only   the   parent    ftate,   but    th.e   colony  of  Caraccas,  has  derived 
great    advantages    from    this    inuitution  :    for   although,     at    the 
fiifi;  afpc6t,   it  may   appear  to  be  one  of  thole  monopolies,   whole 
tendency- is  to   check    the    Ipirit   of  induHry.   inflcad   of  calling 
it  forth  to  new  exertions,   it  has   been  prevented  from    operating 
in    this    manner   by    fcvcral    ialutaiy    regulations,     framed   upon 
forcfight    of  fuch    bad    cii^cii,   and    of  purpf)ie  to  obviate    them. 
The  planters  in    the  Caraccrs    ate    not   left    to    depend   entirely 
on   the    company,   eith.er    for    the  importation  of  Kuropean  com- 
nioditics,   or    the    lale   of  their    own    produttions.      The    inhabi- 
tants   of     the    Car.arv    iOands    have    the     privilege    uf    fending 
thither    anniially    a    regiflcr-fiiip    of  confiderabie    burden;     and 
from  Vera   Cruz,  in   New-Spain,  a   free   trade    is    permitted    ifi 
every     port     comprehended    in    liie    charter   cf    the    company. 


GOVERNMENT,  TRADE,  C^c  199 

In  cnnfcquencc  of  this,  there  is  fuch  a  competition,  that,  both 
with  relpeti  to  what  the  colonies  parcliafe,  and  what  they  fell, 
the  price  feems  to  be  fixed  at  its  natural  and  equitable  rate. 
I'he  company  hag  not  the  power  of  railing  the  fortner,  or  oF 
degrachng  the  latter  at  pleahirc  ;  and  accordingly,  hnce  it 
was  eftablifhed,  th.e  incrcafe  of  culture,  of  population,  and 
of  live  ftock,  in  the  province  of  Caraccas,  has  been  very 
confiderable, 

Wliile  Spain  adhered  with  rigour  to  her  ancient  maxims  con- 
cerning her  commerce  witii  America,  fhe  was  fo  mucli  iifraid 
of  opening  any  channel,  by  which  an  illicit  trade  might  fitid 
admilTion  into  the  colonies,  that  flie  almoil:  fliut  herielf  out 
fron\  any  intcrcourfe  with  them,  but  that  which  was  cariied  on 
by  her  annual  fleets.  There  was  no  etlablifiimcui  for  a  regular 
eommunicat!ion  of  either  public  or  private  intelligence  between 
the  mother  country  and  its  American  fettlcments.  From  thq 
want  of  this  neceffary  inflitution,  the  operations  of  the  flate, 
as  well  as  the  bufineis  of  individuals,  were  retarded  or  con- 
dytled  unlkilfully,  and  Spain  often  received  from  foreigners 
her  firlt  information  with  refpcft  to  very  interefting  events  in 
her  own  colonies.  But  though  this  defeat  in  police  was  fenfi- 
bly  felt,  and  the  remedy  for  it  was  obvious,  that  jealous  Ipirit 
with  which  the  Spanidi  monarch s  guarded  the  exclufive  trade, 
rellrained  them  from  applying  it.  At  length  Charles  III.  fur- 
ntounted  thofe  confulerations  which  had  deterred  his  prede- 
eelTors,  and  in  the  year  1764  appointed  packet-boats  to  be 
di [patched  on  the  firft  day  of  each  month  from  Corunna  to  the 
Havannah  or  Porto  Rico.  From  thence  letters  are  conveyed 
in  fmaller  veffels  to  Vera  Cruz  and  Porto  Bello,  and  tranimitted 
by  poft  through  the  kingdoms  of  Terra  Firma,  Granada^  Peru 
and  Mew-Spain.  With  no  J;els  regularity  packet-boats  fail  once 
in  two  months  to  Rio  de  la  Plata,  for  the  accommodation  of 
•the  provinces  to  the  eaft  of  the  Andes.  Thus  provifion  is 
made  for  the  fpecdy  and  certain  circulation  of  intelligence 
throughout  the  vaft  dominions  of  Spain,  from  which  equal 
advantages  mud  redound  to  the  political  and  mercantile  intereft 
of  the  kingdom.  With  tliis  new  arrangetnent,  a  fcheme  of 
extenaing  commerce  has  been  more  immediately  conneftcd. 
Each  of  the  pncket-boats,  wliich  are  velfcls  of  fome  confiderable 
burden,  is  allowed  to  take  in  half  a  loading  of  fucli  commodi- 
ties as  are  the  produCl  of  Spain,  and  moll  in  demand  in  the 
ports  whither  they  are  bound.  In  return  for  thefe  they  may 
bring  hoine  to  Corunna  an  equal  quantity  of  American  pro- 
duclions.     This    may   be   confidcred    as  the    (irll    relaxations   of 


200  OBSERVATIONS  ON  TIlE 

thofe  rigid  laws,  which  confined  the  trade  with  the  new  world 
to  a  fingle  port,  and  the  firft  atLciiipt  to  admit  the  reft  of  the 
kingdom  to  lome  fhare  in  it. 

It  was  foon  followed  by  one  more  deciftve.  In  the  year 
»7^5>  Charles  III.  laid  open  the  trade  to  the  windward  iflands, 
Cuba,  Hilpaniola,  Porto-Rico,  Margarita  and  Trinadad,  to  his 
i"ubje£ls  in  every  province  of  Spain.  He  permitted  them  to 
fail  from  certain  ports  in  each  province,  which  are  fpecified 
in  the  editl,  at  any  feafon,  and  with  whatever  cargo  they  deem- 
ed mofl  proper,  without  any  other  warrant  than  a  fimple  clear- 
ance from  the  cuftom-houfe  of  the  place  whence  they  took,  their 
departure.  He  releafed  them  from  the  numerous  and  oppref* 
five  duties  impofed  on  goods  exoorted  to  America,  and  in 
place  of  tlie  whole  lubftitutcd  a  moderate  tax  of  fix  in  the 
hundred  oa  the  commodities  fent  from  Spain.  He  allowed 
them  to  return  either  to  the  fame  port,  or  to  any  other  where 
they  might  hope  for  a  more  advantageous  market,  and  there 
to  enter  the  homeward  cargo,  on  payment  of  the  ufual  duties. 
This  ample  privilege,  which  at  once  broke  through  all  the 
fences  which  the  jealous  policy  of  Spain  had  been  labouring, 
for  two  centuries  and  a  half,  to  throw  round  its  commercial 
intcrcourfc  with  the  new  world,  was  foon  after  extended 
to  Louiliaua,  and  to  the  provinces  of  \  ucatan  and  Cam- 
peachy. 

Still,  however,  the  commercial  regulations  of  Spain,  with 
refpeft  to  her  colonies,  are  too  rigid  and  lyftematical  to  bd 
carried  into  complete  execution.  The  legiflature  that  loads 
tiade  with  impofitions  too  heavy,  or  fetters  it  by  reftriftions 
too  levere,  defeats  its  own  intention,  and  is  only  multiplying 
the  inducements  to  violate  its  ftatutes,  and  propofing  an  high 
premium  to  encourage  illicit  traftic.  The  Spaniards,  both  in 
Europe  and  America,  being  circumlcribed  in  their  mutual 
intercourfe  by  the  jealoufy  of  the  crown,  or  opprefled  by  its 
cxaftions,  have  their  invention  continually  on  the  ftretch  hovV 
to  elude  its  cditls.  The  vigilance  and  ingenuity  of  private 
interelt  difcover  means  of  effecting  this,  which  public  wiidom 
cannot  fore'ee,  nor  public  authority  prevent.  This  fpirit^ 
cownierafting  thdt  of  the  laws,^  pervades  the  comrtierce  of 
Spain  with  America  in  all  its  branches,  and  from  the  higiiett 
departments  m  government  delcends  to  the  loweft.  The  vciy 
oiHcers  ;ippoinied  to  check  contraband  trade  are  often  employed 
as  inftrumenls  in  carrying  it  on  ;  and  the  boards  inftituted  to 
reftrain  and  punifi"i  it,  are  liie  channels  through  v/hich  it  flows. 
Tlie  king   is  liippofcd,  by    the  moft  intelligent  Spanifti  writers, 


GOVERNMENT,    TRADE,   &c.  201 

to  be  defrauded,  by  various  artifices,  of  more  than  ont-half  oF 
the  revcraie  which  he  ought  ,io  receive  from  America  ;  arid  as 
long  as  it  is  tlie  intereft  of  fo  many  perfons  to  Ikreen  tb.ofc 
artifices  from  detctlion,  the  Itrwu-ledge  of  them  will  never  reach 
the  throne. 

Before  we  clofe  this  account  of  the  Spanifli  trade  in  America, 
there  remains  one  detached,  but  important  brancii  of  it,  to  be 
mentioned.  .  Soon  after  his  accelhon  to  the  thrope,  Philip  II. 
formed  a  fcheme  of  phuiting  a  colotiy  in  the  Philippine  iflands, 
which  had  been  neglected  fince  the  time  of  their  difcovery  ; 
and  he  accomplifhed  it  by  means  of  an  armament  fitted  out 
from  New- Spain;  Manilla,  in  the  ifland  of  Luconia,  was  the 
flation  chofen  for  the  capital  ot  this  new  eftablifliment.  From 
it  an  aftive  commercial  intercourfe  began  with  the  Chinefe,  and 
a  conflderable  number  of  that  induftrious  people,  allured  by 
the  profpeft  of  gain,  fettled  in  the  Philippi;ie  illands  under  the 
Spanifh  protcftion  :  they  fupplied  the  colony  fo  amply  with  nil 
the  valuable  produftions  and  manufaftuies  of  the  Eall,  as  enabled 
it  to  open  a  trade  with  America,  by  a  courl'e  of  navigation  the 
longefh  from  land  to  land  on  our  globe.  In  the  infancy  of  this 
trade  it  was  carried  on  with  Callao,  on  the  coafi  of  Peru  ;  but 
experience  having  difcovered  the  impropriety  of  fixing  upon 
that  as  the  port  of  communication  with  Manilla,  the  ftaple  of 
the  commerce  between  the  eafk  and  well  was  removed  from 
Callao  to  Acapulco,  on  the  coaft  of  New-Spain. 

After  various  arrangements,  it  has  been  brought  into  a  re- 
gular form  :  one  or  two  (hips  depart  annually  from  Acapulco, 
which  are  permitted  to  carry  out  filver  to  the  amount  of  five 
hundred  thoufand  pcfos,  but  they  have  hardly  anv  thing  elfe  of 
Value  on  board  ;  in  return  for  which,  they  bring  back  fpices, 
drugs,  china  and  japan  wares,  calicoes,  chintz,  muflins,  filks, 
and  every  precious  article,  with  which  the  benignity  of  the  cli- 
mate, or  the  ingenuity  of  its  people,  has  enabled  the  Eafl  to 
fupply  the  reft  of  the  world.  For  fome  time  tiie  merchants  of 
Peru  were  admitted  to  participate  in  this  traffic,  and  might  fend 
annually  a  fliip  to  Acapulco  to  wait  the  arrival  of  the  veflels 
from  Manilla,  and  receive  a  proportional  fhare  of  the  commo- 
dities which  they  imported.  At  length,  the  Peruvians  were 
excluded  from  this  trade  by  moft  rigorous  editls,  and  iW  the 
commodities  from  tiie  Fall  relerved  fokly  for  the  confumption 
of  New-Spaiui 

In  conlequence  of  this  indulgence,  the  inhabitants  of  that 
country  enjoy  advantages  unknown  in  the   other   Spanilh  coio- 

D   d 


202  OBSERVATIONS,    &c. 

nies.  The  manufaftures  of  the  Eaft  are  not  only  more  fuhed 
to  a  warm  climate,  and  more  Ihowy  than  thofe  of  Europe,  but 
can  be  fold  at  a  lower  price  ;  while,  at  the  lame  time,  the  pro- 
fits upon  them  are  lo  confiderable,  as  to  enrich  all  thofe  who  arc 
employed,  either  in  bringing  them  from  Manilla,  or  vending 
them  in  New-Spain,  As  the  intercft  both  of  the  buyer  and 
feller  concurred  in  favouring  this  branch  of  commerce,  it  has 
continued  to  extend  in  fpitc  of  regulations,  concerted  with  the 
inoft  anxious  jealouly  to  circumfcribe  it.  Under  cover  of  what 
the  laws  permit  to  be  imported,  great  quantities  of  India  goods 
are  poured  into  the  maikets  of  New-Spain,  and  when  the  llota 
arrives  at  Vera  Cruz  from  Europe,  it  often  finds  the  wants  of 
ihe  people  already  fupplied  by  cheaper  and  more  acceptable 
commodities. 

There  is  not,   in   the  commercial  arrangements  of  Spain,   any 
circumflance  more  inexplicable  than  the  permifTion  of  this  trade 
between  New-Spain  and  the  Philippines,   or  more  repugnant  to 
its  fundamental  maxim   of  holding  the  colonies  in  perpetual  de- 
pendence on  the  mother  country,  by  prohibiting  any  commercial 
intercourle  that  might    luggell  to  them    the  idea    of  receiving  a 
iupply  of  their  wants  from  any  other  quarter.      This  permiffion 
inuft    appear    flill    more    extraordinaiy,    from    conlidering    that 
Spain    hcrle'lf    carries  on  no  direft  trade  with  her  fcttlements  in 
the  Philippines,   and  grants  a  privilege  to  one  of  her  American 
colonics,   which  Ihe  denies    to    her    lubjefts   in    Europe.      It    is 
probable,   that  the   colonifts    who    originally    took    polfeffion  of 
the  Philippines,   having  been  fent  out  from    New-Spain,  begun 
this   intercourle    with    a    country    which    they    confidercd,     iri 
fome  meaiure,   as  their  parent  ftate,  before  the  court  of    Madrid 
■was  aware  of  its  confcquences,   or  could  eftablifli  regulations  in 
order  to  prevent  it.      Many  remonflrances  have    been  prclented 
agaiafl.  this  trade,   as   detrimental    to    Spain,   by    diverting    into 
another  channel  a  large  portion  of  that  treafure  which  ought  to 
flow  into  the.  kingdom,   as  tending  to  give  rile  to   a  fpiiit  ot   in- 
dependence   iu    the    colonies,     and    to    encourage    innumerable 
frauds,   againll  which  it  is  impoflablc   to  guard  in  traniaclions  fo 
far  removed  from  the  infpeclion    of  government.      But  as  it  re- 
quires no  flight  effort  of  political  wildom   and  vigour  to  abolifl'i 
iuiy    piatlice  which   numbers  arc  interefled  in    lupporting,   and 
to  whitii  tune  has  added  the'  fanftion  of  its  authority,   the  Com- 
nicrcc  between    New-Spain  and    Manilla   feetns    to  be  as  confi- 
derable as  ever,   and  may  be  confidered  as  one  chief  caufe  of  the 
elegance  and  Ipkndur  confpicuoub  in    this  ^aft'^oi  the  Spanilh 
doniiiiious. 


(       203       ) 


PORTUGUESE    SETTLEMENTS 


SOUTH-AMERICA, 


■•<"<"<^4»  •*■  •^>*">"> — 


B     R     A     S     I     L. 


T, 


HIS  territory  is  fituated  between  the  equator  and  35"  fouth 
latitude,  and  60°  weft  longitude  ;  it  is  about  one  tliouland  five 
hundred  and  fixty  miles  in  length,  and  one  thouland  in  breadth; 
but,  meafuring  along  the  coaft,  it  is  two  thoufand  miles  long, 
and  is  bordered  with  mountains  that  open  from  time  to  time, 
and  form  good  harbours  where  veflels  may  lie  in  fafety. 

It  is  bounded  by  the  mouth  of  the  river  Amazon  and  the 
Atlantic  ocean  on  the  north;  and  by  the  fame  ocean  on  the 
eaft  ;  on  the  fouth  by  the  river  Plata  ;  on  the  weft  by  moraifes, 
lakes,  torrents,  rivers,  and  mountains,  which  feparate  it  from 
Amazonia  and  the  Spanifh  poffeflions.  On  the  coaft  are  three 
fmall  iflands,  where  fhips  touch  for  provifions  on  their  voyage 
to  the  South  feas,  viz.  Fernando,  St.  Barbaro  and  St.  Catherine's. 

It  was  accidentally  difcovered  by  the  Portuguele  in  1500. 
Emanuel,  king  of  Portugal,  had  equipped  a  fquadion  of  thir- 
teen lail,  carrying  twelve  hundred  Ibldicrs  and  failors  dcftined 
for  the  Eaft-Indies,  under  the  conduft  of  Peter  Alvarez  Cabral. 
This  admiral,  quitting  Lifbon  on  the  oth  of  March  1500,  ftruck 
out  to  fea  to  avoid  the  coaft  of  Guinea,  and  ftcered  his  courie 
fouthward,  that  he  might  the  more  eafily  turn  the  cape  of  Good 
Hope.  On  the  24th  of  April  he  got  fight  of  the  continent  of 
South-America,  which  he  judged  to  be  a  large  ifland  at  lome 
diftance  from  the  coaft  of  Africa.  Coafting  along  for  fonie 
time,  he  ventured  to  fend  a  boat  on  fliore,  and  was  nftonifhed 
to  obfcrve  the  inhabitants  entirely    different  from  the  Africans. 

D  d  2 


204  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

in  featuic?,  hair  and  complexion.  It  was  found,  however, 
impiatlicable  to  feize  upon  any  of  the  Indians,  M'ho  retired 
with  great  celerity  to  the  mountains  on  the  approach  "of  the 
Portugucfc;  yet,  as  the  failors  had  dilcovered  a  good  harbour, 
the  admiral  thought  proper  to  come  to  an  anchor,  and  called 
the  bay  Puerto  Scguro.  Next  day  he  fent  another  boat  on 
fhore,  and  had  the  good  fortune  to  lay  hold  on  two  of  the  na- 
tives, whom  he  clothed  ai}d  treated  kindly,  and  then  dilmiffed, 
to  make  a  proper  report  to  their  countrymen.  The  flratagem 
had  the  defired  effcft.  The  Indians,  having  heard  the  relation 
of  the  prifoners,  immediately  crowded  to  the  fhore,  hnging, 
dancing,  and  founding  horns  of  different  kinds  ;  which  induced 
Cabral  to  hnd,  and  take  folemn  poffeffion  in  the  name  of  his 
Portugucfe  majefty. 

As  fopn  as  tlie  court  of  Lifoon  had  ordered  a  furvey  to  be 
taken  of  the  harbours,  bays,  rivers  and  coafls  of  Brahl,  and 
■was  convinced  that  the  country  afforded  neither  gold  nor  filver, 
they  held  it  in  fuch  contempt,  that  they  fent  thither  none  but 
condemned  criminals  and  abandoned  women.  Two  fhips  were 
fent  every  year  from  Portugal,  to  carry  the  refufe  of  the  king- 
dom to  this  new  world,  and  to  bring  home  parrots,  and  woods 
for  the  dyers  and  cabinet-makers.  Gusger  was  afterwards  added, 
but  loon  after  prohibited,  left  it  fhould  interfere  with  the  fale 
of  the  fame  article   from   India. 

In  1548,  the  Jews,  many  of  whom  had  taken  refuge  in  Por- 
tugal, beginning  to  be  perlecuted  by  the  inquifition,  were 
ftrippcd  of  their  pofleflions,  and  banifhed  to  Erafil.  Here, 
however,  they  were  not  entirely  forfaken  :  many  of  them  found 
kind  relations  and  faithful  friends  ;  others,  who  were  known 
to  be  men  of  probity  and  underRanding,  obtained  money  in, 
r.dvance  from  merchants  of  difierent  nations,  with  whom  they 
had  formerly  had  tranfaflions.  By  tlie  affiflance  of  forae  en- 
terprifmg  men  they  were  enabled  to  cultivate  lugar-canes,  which 
they  hrft  procured  from  the  ifland  of  Madeira.  Sugar,  which 
till  tJjen  had  been  uicd  only  in  medicine,  became  ai,i  article  of 
luMUT  ;  nrinces  and  great  men  wpraaN  eager  to  procure  "them- 
Iclvfs  this  new  fpecies  of  indulgence.  This  circumftance  proved 
favourable  to  Brafil,  and  enabled  it  to  extend  its  fugar  planta- 
tions. The  court  of  Lilbon,  nolwithflanding  Us ^  prejudices, 
began  to  be  fenfible,  that  a  colonv  might  be  benential  to  the  mo- 
ther country,  without  producing  gold  or  filver;  and  this  fettle- 
ment,;yf)hi(Ch  hadbeen  wholly  left  to  the  management  of  the  colo- 
rii£&,  wa^  nowithai,!C,}itt  tpdelcrve  fomcl;tn4of  attention':  and  acr 


0  :p     B  P.  A  $  I  L.  205 

cordingly  Thomas  d^  Spuza   was   fent    thither,   in    1549.   to  re- 
g'.ilatc  and   faperintend  it. 

Xhis  able  governor  began  by  reducing  thefe  men,  who  had 
always  lived  in  a  ftite  of  anarchy,  into  proper  Subordination, 
and  bringijig  their  fcattered  plantations  clofer  together;  after 
which  he  applied  himiclf  to  acquire  fome  information  refpeft- 
ing  the  natives,  with  whom  he  knew  he  muft  be  necelTarily 
engaged  either  in  traffic  or  war.  This  it  was  no  eafy  matter 
to  accomplifli,  Brafil  was  full  of  fmall  nations,  fome  of  which 
inhabited  the  forefls,  and  others  lived  in  the  plains  and  along 
the  rivers:  fome  had  fettled  habitations,  but  the  greater  num- 
ber of  thera  led  a  roving  life,  and  mofl  of  them  had  no  inter- 
^c£)urfe  witlveach  other.  It  is  not  to  be  fuppofed,  that  fuch  a 
people  would  be  at  all  dilpofed  to  fubmit  to  the  yoke  which 
the  Portuguefe  wanted  to  put  upon  them.  At  firfl  they  only 
declined  all  intercourfe  with  thcfe  ftrangers  ;  but  finding  them- 
felves  purfued  in  order  to  be  made  flaves,  and  to  be  employed 
in  the  labours  of  the  field,  they  took  the  relblution  to  murder 
and  dqvour  all  the  Europeans  they  could  feize  upon.  The, 
friends  and  relations  of  the  favages  that  were  taken  prifoners 
alfo  ventured  to  make  frequent  attempts  to  refcue  them, 
and  were  Ibmetimes  fucc^fsful  ;  fo  that  the  Portuguefe  were 
forced  to  attend  to  thq  double  employments  of  labour  and: 
war. 

Souza,  by  building  San  Salvador,  gave  a  center  to  the 
colony  ;  but  the  honour  of  iettling,  extending,  and  making. 
it  really  ufeful  to  the  mother  country,  was  referved  for  the^ 
Jeiuits  who  attended  him.  Thefe  men,  who  for  their  arts  of 
infinuation  and  addrefs  have  been  equalled  by  none,  dilperied> 
themfelves  among  the  Indians.  When  any  of  the  mifiionaries. 
were  murdered,  they  were  immediately  replaced  by  olliers ; 
and  feeming  to  be  infpired  only  with  fentiments  of  peace 
and  charity,  the  Indians,  in  procefs  of  time,  grew  not  only, 
familiar  but  paffionately  fond  of  them.  As  the  mifiionaries 
were  too  few  in  number  to  tranfaft  all  the  bufinefs  themfelves, 
they  fre-quently  deputed  fome  of  the  moft  intelligent  Indians 
in  their  flead.  Thefe  men,  having  diflrihutcd  hatchets, 
knives,  and  looking-glafTes,  among  the  favages  they  met  with, 
reprefented  the  Portuguefe  as  a  harmlefs,  humane,  and  good 
fort  of  people. 

The  proipcrity  of  the  colony  of  Brafil,  which  Was  vifible 
to  all  Europe,  excited  the  envy  of  the  French,  Spaniards  and 
Dutch  fucceilively  :  the  lattei-,  indeed,  bid  faire'ft-  for  the  con- 
queft  of*  the  whole  ;   their  admiral  Henry  Lonk  arrived,   in    the 


ooS  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

beginning  of  the  year  1630,  witli  forty-fix  men  of  war,  on 
the  coafl  of  Fernambucca,  one  of  the  largeft  and  bed  fortified 
Captainfhips  of  ihcfe  parts.  He  reduced  it  after  feveral  obflin^ite 
erlgngements,  in  which  fhe  was  always  vitlorious.  The  troops 
he  left  behind  fubdued  the  captainfhips  of  Termaraca,  Pareiba, 
and  Rio  Grande,  in  the  years  1633,  1634,  and  1635.  Thefe, 
as  well  as  Fernambucc^,  furnifhed  annually  a  large  quantity  of 
fugar,  a  great  deal,  of  wood  for  dying,  and  other  commodities. 
The  Hollanders  were  io  elated  with  the  acquifition  of  this 
wealth,  which  flowed  to  Amflerdam  inftcad  of  Lifbon.  that 
they  detemined  to  conquer  all  the  I^rafils,  and  intrufted  Mau- 
rice of  Nair.tu  with  the  conduct  of  this  enterprife.  That  gene- 
ral reached  the  place  of  his  deftination  in  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1637  '•  ^^'-  f*^""*!  the  foldiers  lb  well  diiciplined.  the  com- 
manders iuch  experienced  men.  and  fo  much  readinefs  in  all 
to  engage,  that  he  dircftly  took  the  field.  He  was  fuccefTivcly 
oppofed  by  Albuquerque,  Banjola,  Lewis  Rocca  de  Borgia, 
and  the  Brafilian  Cameron,  the  idol  of  his  people,  paflion- 
atcly  fond  of  the  Portuguele,  brave,  aftive,  cunning,  and  who 
wanted  no  q'ualification  necefTary  for  a  general,  but  to  have 
learned  the  art  of  war  under  able  commanders,  Tbcfe  feveral 
chiefs  exerted  their  utmoft  CiTorts  to  defend  the  poflTeirions 
that  were  under  their  protection  ;  but  their  endeavours  proved 
inefFeftual.  The  Dutch  Icizcd  upon  the  captainfhips  of  Siara, 
Scrcgippe,  and  the  greater  part  of  that  of  Bahia.  Seven  of 
the  fifteen  provinces  which  compofed  the  colony  had  already 
fubmitted  to  them,  and  they  flattered  themfelves  that  one  or 
two  campaigns  would  make  them  mafters  of  the  reft  of  their 
enemies  pofieffions  in  that  part  of  Arnerica,  when  they  were 
fuddenly  checked  by  the  revolution  happening  on  the  banifh- 
ment  of  Philip  IV.  and  placing  the  duke  of  Bragnnza  on  the 
throne.  After  th-s,  the  Portuguefe  recovering  their  fpirirs, 
foon  drove  the  Dutch  out  of  Brafil,  and  have  continued  maf- 
ters of  it  ever  fince. 

The  country    of  Brafil    is  divided   into  the  following  provin- 
ces,  or  captainfhips,   as   they  are  called,    vi?.    Paria,    Maragnano, 
Siara,    Rio    Grande,    Pareiba,   Tamarica,    Fernambucca,    Scregip- 
pe,    Bahia,   Porto  Segurn,    Efnerito  Santo,    Rio  dc   Janeiro,  '  An- " 
gra,    St.    Vincent,    and  Del  Rev.  "    '      '^''' 

The  harbours  of  Brafil  arc    Panambuco,    AH    SnintF,    Rio   Ja- 
neiro,   the  port  of   St,  Vincent,  the  harbour  of  Gabriel,  and  the 
port  of  St.  Salvador  ;   and  with  rcfpea  l^  riVcrs,  thei-e  arc  a  great 
number  of   noble  flrcams,    which  ivnitfc  ^^th^Vhe  ^fvers'A^azoq''^' 
.ind  Plala,   befides  others  which  fall  ii^?)^W^  A^lVn^fc'^cean. """   ' 


0   F     B   R  A  S  I  L.  207 

The  climate  of  Brafil  has  been  defcribed  by  two  eminent 
naturalifts.  Pile  and  Margrave,  who  oblerved  it  with  a  philo- 
iophical  accuracy,  to  be  temperate  and  mild,  when  compared 
with  that  of  Africa  ;  they  alcribe  this  chiefly  to  the  refrefning 
wind  which  blows  continually  from  the  lea.  The  icir  is  not 
only  cool,  liut  chilly  through  the  night,  fo  that  the  natives 
kindle  a  fire  every  evening  in  their  huts.  As  the  rivers  in  this 
country  auriually  overflow  their  banks,  and  leave  a  fort  of  flimc 
upon  the  ijnds,  the  loil  here  muft  be  in  many  places  amazingly 
rich  ;  and  this  correfponds  with  the  bed  infoimation  upon  the 
fubjeft.  The  vegetable  produftions  are  Indian  corn,  fugar 
canes,  tobacco,  indigo,  hides,  ipecacuana,  baliara,  Brafil  wood, 
which  is  of  a  red  colour,  hard  and  diy,  and  is  chiefly  uied  in 
dying,  but  not  the  red  of  the  beft  kind.  ficre  is  alio  the 
yellow  fuftic,  of  ufe  in  dying  yellow,  and  a  beautiful  piece  of 
Ipeckled  wood,  made  ule  of  in  cabinet  v/ork.  Here  are  five 
different  forts  of  palm  trees,  fome  curious  ebony,  and  a  great 
variety  of  cotton  trees.  This  country  abounds  in  horned 
cattle,  which  are  hunted  for  their  hides  only,  twenty  thouiand 
being  fent  annually  into  Europe.  There  is  alio  a  plenty  of 
deers,  hares,  and  other  game.  Amongll  the  wild  beafls  found 
here,  are  tigers,  porcupines,  janouveras,  and  a  fierce  animal, 
fomewhat  like  a  greyhound  ;  monkeys,  floths,  and  the  topi- 
raffou,  and  a  creature  between  a  bull  and  an  als,  but  without 
horns,  and  entirely  harmlefs,  the  flcfli  is  very  good,  and  has 
the  flavour  of  beef.  There  is  a  numberlefs  variety  of  fowl, 
wild  and  tame,  in  this  country;  among  thefe  are  turkeys,  fine 
white  hens  and  ducks.  The  remarkable  birds  are  the  humming 
bird;  the  lankima,  fometiincs  called  the  unicorn  bird,  from  its 
having  a  horn,  iwo .  or  three  inches  long,  grow  ing  out  of  its 
forehead  ;  the  guira,  famous  for  often  changing  its  colour,  being 
firft  black,  then  aflti-coloured,  next  white,  afterwards  fcarlet, 
and  laft  of  all  crimlon  :  which  colours  grow  richer  and  deeper 
the  longer  the  bird  lives.  Among  the  abundance  of  fifh  with 
which  the  feas,  lakes,  and  rivers  of  this  country  are  flored,  is 
the  globe  fifli,  lb  called  from  its  form,  whicli  is  io  befet  vvith 
fpines  like  a  hedgehog,  that  it  bids  defiance  to  ail  filh  of  prey. 
But  the  molt  reitu-.rkable  creature  is  the  fea  bladder/  fo  called 
becauTe  if  greatly  refembles  one,  and  fwiins  on  the  iu^face  of 
the  waives-,- the  infide  is  filled  with  air,  except  a  i'mall  quantity 
of  wa'tfer,  thaf  ferves  10  puife  it.-  The- Odn  is  very  thin  and 
tianfparent,'  and  like  a  bubble  raited  in'  tht  vhller-refiejfts  ail  the 
colours  of  i^he  fky.  ,  BrafiJi  breeds  a  gfear '.^ari^fv  of  ferpent* 
ajid  venomous  C{;eatyre»j  asaasg  which'  arg'  the'  Ir.dian  laiiiman-. 


2o8  GE.VERAL  DESCRIPTION 

der,  a  four-kggeH  infeft,  the  fling  of  which  is  mortal  ;  the 
ibivaboca,  a  Ipecies  of  ferpent,  about  feven  yards  long,  and 
half  a  yard  in  circumference,  vvhofe  poifon  is  inftantaneouflv 
fatal  ;  the  rattk-Inake,  which  there  attains  an  enormous  fize  ; 
the  liboyd,  or  roe-buck  fnaki?,  which,  authors  inform  us  are 
capable  of  fwallowing  a  roe-buck  whole  with  his  hornSj  being 
between  twenty  and  thirty  feet  in  length,  and  two  yards  in 
circumference.  Befides  thofe,  there  are  many  other  iniefts  and 
ferpents  of  a  dangerous  and  venomous  nature. 

The  gold  and  diamond  mines  are  but  a  recent  difcovery ; 
they  were  firft  opened  in  the  year  1681,  and  have  fince  yield- 
ed above  five  millions  flerling  annually,  of  which  fum  a  fifth 
belongs  to  the  crown^.  So  plentiful  are  diamonds  in  this  coun- 
try, that  the  court  of  Portugal  has  found  it  neceffary  to  reftrain 
their  importation,  to  prevent  too  great  a  dimunition  of  their 
value.  They  are  neither  fo  hard  nor  fo  clear  as  thofe  of  the 
Eaft-Indies,  nor  do  they  fparkle  fo  much,  but  they  are  whiter. 
The  Brafilian  diamonds  are  fold  ten  per  cent,  cheaper  than  the 
Oriental  ones,  fuppofing  the  weights  to  be  equal.  The  largeft 
jiiamond  in  the  world  was  lent  from  Brafil  to  the  king  of 
Portugal  ;  it  weighs  one  thoufand  fix  hundred  and  eighty 
carats,  or  twelve  ounces  and  a  half,  and  has  been  valued  at 
fixty-fix  millions  feven  hundred  and  eighty-feven  thoufand 
five  hundred  pounds.  Some  fkilful  lapidaries,  however  are 
of  opinion  that  this  fuppofed  diamond  is  only  a  topaz,  in 
which  cafe  a  very  great  abatement  mufl  be  made  in  its  valuer 
The  crown  revenue  arifing  from  this  colony  amounts  to  two 
millions  flerling  in  gold,  if  we  may  credit  fome  late  writers,  be- 
fides the  duties  and  cuftoms  on  merchandife  imported  from  that 
quarter.  This,  indeed,  is  more  than  a  fifth  of  the  precious 
metal  produced  by  the  mines,  but  every  other  confequent  ad- 
vantage confidered,  it  probably  does  not  much  exceed  the  truths 

The  extra£lion  of  gold  is  neither  very  laborious  nor  danger- 
ous in  Brafil.  It  is  icmetimes  on  the  furface  of  the  foil,  and 
this  is  the  purefl;  kind,  and  at  other  times  it  is  neceifary  to  dig 
for  it  eighteen  or  twenty  feet,  but  feldom  lower.  It  is  found 
in  larger  pieces  upon  the  mountains  and  barren  rocks  than  in 
the  valleys,  or  on  the  borders  of  the  river.  Every  man-^wbo 
di!ct>vers  a  mine,  muR;  give  notice  of  it  to  the  government.  If 
the  vein  be  thought  of  little  confequence  by  perlons  appointed 
to  examine  it,  it  is  always  given  up.  to  the  public  ;  if  it  be 
declared  to  be  a  rich  vein,  the  government  vcferve  a  portion  of 
it  to  themfelves  ;  another  fhare  is  given  to  the  commandant,  a 
third  to  the  intcndant,  and   two  {hares  are  fecured  to  the  difco- 


OFBRASIL.  209 

V6rer.  The  miners  aire  obliged  to  deliver  to  the  k'irig  of  Portugal 
a  "fifth  part  of  all  the  gold  which  is  extrafted. 

St.  Salvador  is  the  capital  of  Brafil.  This  city  has  a  noble, 
fpacious  and  comrhodious  harbour,  is  buih  on  a  high  and  lleep 
rock,  having  the  fea  upon  one  fide,  and  a  lake  forming  a  crelcent 
on  the  dthef.  The  fituatidn  tnakes  it  in  a  rnanner  impregnable 
by  nature,  and  tlie  Portuguefe  have  belides  added  to  it  very 
ftrong  fortifications ;  it  is  populous,  magnificent,  and  beyond 
compai-ifon  the  liioft  gay  and  opulent  in  all  Brafil. 

The  trade  of  Brafil  is  very  great,  and  increafes  every  year. 
The  Portuguefe  have  opportunities  of  fupplying  themlelves  with 
llaves  for  their  feveral  works,  at  a  much  cheaper  rate  than  any 
other  European  power  that  has  fettlcments  in  America,  they 
being  the  only  European  nation  that  has  eftabliflied  coloiues  in 
Africa,  from  whence  they  import  as  many  as  forty  thoufand 
negroes  annually. 

The  excelTive  confluence  of  people  to  the  Brafil  colonies,  as 
'vVell  from  other  countries  as  from  Portugal,  not  only  enlarges 
the  imports  of  gold,  diamonds,  fugar,  tobacco,  hides,  drugs  and 
ttiedicirics,  but  what  is  of  infinitely  more  importance  to  Europe 
ih  general,  the  exportation  of  the  manufaftures  of  this  hemif- 
phere,  of  which  the  principal  are  the  following  :  Great-Britain 
fends  woollen  manufaElures,  fuch  as  fine  broad  medley  cloths,  fine 
Spanifh  cloths,  fcarlet  and  black  cloths,  ferges,  duroys,  druggets, 
fagathies,  fhalloons,  camblcts,  and  Norwich  lluflFs,  black  Col- 
chefter  bays,  fays,  and  perpetuanas,  called  long  ells,  hats,  (lock- 
ings, and  gloves.  Holland,  Germany,  and  France,  chiefly  ex- 
port fine  hollands,  bone  lace;,  and  fine  thread  ;  filk  manufaftures, 
pepper,  lead,  block  tin,  and  other  articles,  are  alfo  fent  from 
different  colonics.  Bcfides  the  particulars  already  fpecified, 
EnglandTikewifc  trades  with  Portugal,  for  the  ufe  of  the  Brafils, 
in  copper  and  brals,  wrought  and  unwrought  pewter,  and  all 
kinds  of  hardware;  all  which  articles  have  fo  enlarged  the  Por- 
tuguefe trade,  that  inftead  of  twelve  fhips  ufually  employed  in 
the  Brafil  commerce-,  there  are  how  never  fewer  than  one  hun- 
dred fail  of  large  velfels  conftantly  going  and  returning  to  thofe 
Colonics.  To  all  this  may  be  added,  that  Brafil  receives  from 
Madeira  great  q^uantity  of  wine,  vinegar,  and  brandy  ;  and  from 
the  Azores,  liquors  to  the  amount  of  twenty-five  thoufand  pounds 
per  annum.  Indeed,  the  commerce  of  Brafil  alone  is  fufficient 
to  raife  Portug-il  to  a  confiderable  height  of  naval  power,  as  it 
maintains  a  conftant  nurfery  of  feamen  ;  yet  a  certain  infatua- 
tion in  the  policy  of  the  country  has  prevented  that  ^ffc£l  even 


2fo  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

amicin;  aU  thefe  extniordinary  advantages.  All  the  fhips  in  this' 
trade  being  under  the  direftion  of  the  government,  have  their 
appoiuted  feafons  of  going  and  returning,  under  convoy  of  a 
Certain  number  of  men  of  war  ;  nor  can  a  fingle  fliip  clear  out 
or  go,  except  with  the  fleet,  but  by  a  fpecial  licence  from  the 
king,  which  is  fcldom  granted,  though  it  is  eafily  determined 
that/uch  reftriftions  can  prove  no  way  beneficial  to  the  generiil 
commerce,  though  p'ofilbly  the  crown  revenue  may  be  better 
guarded  thereby.  The  fleets  fail  in  the  following  order,  and  at 
the  following  ftjted  periods:  that  to  Rio  de  Janeiro  fets  fail  in 
January  ;  the  ilcet  to  Bahia,  or  the  bay  of  All  Saints,'  in  Fe- 
bruary ;  and  the  third  fleet,  to  Fernambucca,  in  the  month  of 
March. 

The  native  Brafilians  are  about  the  fize  of  th>  EuropeanE.  but' 
not  fo  flout.  They  are  fubjeft  to  fewer  diftempers,  and  are  long 
lived.  They  wear  no  cloathing  ;  the  women  wear  their  hair  ex- 
tremely long,  the  men  cut  their's  fhort ;  the  women  wear  brace- 
lets of  bones  of  a  beautiful  white,  the  men  necklaces  of  the 
fame;  the  women  paint  their  faces,  and  the  men  their  bodies. 
f^^e  food  of  the  Brafilians  is  very  fimple  ;  they  live  upon  fhell 
Mh  by  the  fea  fide,  along  the  rivers  by  fifhing,  and  in  the  foreflff 
by  hunting  •  and  when  thefe  fail,  they  live  upoti  cafTava  and 
other  roots.  They  are  extremely  fond  of  dancing  and  other 
amufenients,  and  thefe  araufementS  are  liot  interrupted  by  the^ 
■Worfhip  of  a  Supreme  Being,  for  it  is  faid  they  know  of  none, 
nor  is  their  tranquillity  diflurbed-  by  the  dread  of  a  future  ftate,' 
of  wlijch  they  have  no  idea.  Th6y  have,  however,  tireir  magi- 
cians, who,  by  flrange  contortionSj  fo  far  work  upon  the  cre- 
dulity of  the  people,  as  to  throw  them  into  violent  convulfions. 
If  the  irnpoitures  of  thefe  magicians  are  detcfted,  they  are  im- 
mediately put  to  death,  which  ferves  in  fome  meafure  to  check 
the  fpirit  of  deceit.  Every  Brafilian  takes  as  many  wives  as  he 
choofes,  and  puts  them  away  wheh  he  gets  tired  of  them.  When 
the  women  lie  in,  they  keep  their  bed  but  a  day  or  two  ;  then 
the  mother,  hanging  the  child  to  her  neck  in  a  cotton  fcarf,  re- 
turns to  her  ufual  occupRtion,  without  any  kind  of  inconveni- 
ence. Travellers  are  received  with  diltinguiflied  marks  of  civi- 
lity by  the  native  Brafilians ;  wherever  they  go  they  are  (ur- 
roundcd  with  women,  who  wafli  their  feet,  and  welcome  them 
Xvith  the  moil  obliging  cxprelTions.  But  it  would  be  an  unpar- 
donable afiront  if  they  fliould  leave  the  family  where  they  were 
nrft  entertained,  in  hopes  of  better  accommodation  in  another. 
Some  of  th«fe  virtues,  however,  weie  moie  applicable  to   thefe 


OF    B  RA  S  I  L.  2u 

natives,  before  they  were    corrupted   by  an    intcrcourfe    with 
the  Europeans. 

"With  refpeO;  to  the  religion  of  Brafil,  though  the  king  of 
Portugal,  as  grand  maflcr  of  the  order  of  Chrift,  is  folely  in  pof- 
fefhon  of  the  titles  ;  and  though  the  produce  of  the  crufade  be- 
longs entirely  to  him,  yet  in  this  extenfive  country,  fix  bifhopr 
lies  have  been  fucceffively  founded,  which  scknowledge  for 
their  fuperior  the  archbifhop  of  Bohia,  eflablifhed  in  the  year 
J 552.  The  fortunate  prelates,  mod  of  them  Europeans,  who 
fill  thefe  honourable  fees,  live  in  a  very  commodious  manner, 
upon  the  emoluments  attached  to  the  function  of  their  miniftry, 
and  upon  a  penfion  of  from  fifty  to  one  thoufand  two  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  per  ann.  granted  to  them  by  the  goveinment. 
Amonof  the  infferior  clergy,  none  but  the  miOTionaries  who  are 
fettled  in  the  Indian  villages  arc  paid,  but  the  others  find  fuffi- 
cient  refources  in  the  fuperftition  of  the  people.  Befides  an 
annual  tribute  paid  by  every  family  to  the  clergyman,  he  is 
entitled  to  two  fliillings  for  every  birth,  for  every  wedding,  and 
every  burial.  Though  there  is  not  abfolutcly  an  inquifition  in 
Brafil,  yet  the  people  of  that  country  arc  not  protefted  from  the* 
outrages  of  that  barbarous  and  infernal  inftitution. 

The  government  of  Brafil  is  in  the  viceroy,  who  has  two 
councils,  one  for  criminal,  the  other  for  civil  affairs,  in  both  of 
which  he  prefides  ;  but  there  is  ^o  part  of  the  world  where  the 
lawyers  are  more  corrupt,  or  the  chicanery  of  their  profefilon 
more  pratlifed. 

Only  half  of  the  captainfhips,  into  which   this  country  is  di- 
vided, belong  to  the  crown,  the  reft  being  fiefs   made    over   to 
^ome  of  the  nobility,  in  reward  of  their   extraordinary   fervices 
who    do  little  more  thafi  acknowledge  tlie   fovefcignty  of  the 
Jcing  of  Portugal. 


E  e  2 


(       212       ) 


FRENXH    rOSSESSIOiNS, 


SOUTH-AMERICA, 


=—.«..<■•«  <-^-*  ^  »^>>..v..>..__ 


C  A  y  E  N  N  E, 


C, 


'AYENNE  IS  bounded  north  and  caft,  by  the  Atlantic  ccc^n ; 
fouth,  by  the  Amazonia  ;  and  weft,  by  Guiana,  or  Surinam.  It 
extends  two  hundred  and  forty  miles  along  the  coaft  of  Guiana, 
and  nearly  three  hundred  miles  within  land,^  ^y'"g  between  the 
equator  and  the  5th  degree  of  north  latitude. 

The  laud  along  the  coafl  is  low,  and  very  fubjc6l  to  inunda- 
tions during  the  rainy  feafons,  from  the  multitude  of  rivers 
which  rufh  down  froni  the  mountains  with  great  impetuofity. 
Here  the  atmofphere  is  very  hot,  rnoift  and  unwholefome,  efpe- 
cially  where  the  woods  are  not  cleared  away  ;  but  on  the  higher 
p^rts  wliere  the  trees  are  cut  down,  and  the  ground  laid  out  in 
plantations,  the  air  i?  more  healthy,  and  the  heat  great,  miti- 
gated by  the  fea  breezes.  The  foil  in  many  parts  is  very  fertile, 
producing  f»gar,  tobacco,  Indian  corn,  fruits,  and  other  necef- 
iaries  of  life. 

The  French  have  taken  poffefllon  of  an  ifiand  upon  this  coaft, 
called  alfo  Cayenne.  This  fettlemcnt  was  begun  in  1635.  A 
report  had  prevailed  for  fomc  time  before,  that  in  the  interior 
parts  of  Guiana,  there  was  a  country  known  by  the  name  of  del 
Dorado,  which  contained  immenfe  riches  in  gold  and  precious 
ftones,  more  than  ever  Cortes  and  Piznrro  had  found  in 
Mexico  and  Peru,  and  this  fable  had  fired  the  imagination  of 
every  nation  in  Europe.  It  is  fuppofed  that  this  was  the  coun- 
try in  queft  of  which  Sir  Vv^altcr  Raleigh  went  on  his  lafl  voyage  ; 


0  F  C  A  YE  N  N  E,  2,^ 

»nd  as  the  French  were  not  behind  tlieir  neighbours  in  their 
endeavours  to  find  out  fo  defirable  a  country,  iome  attempts  for 
this  purpofe  were  likewife  made  by  that  nation  much  about  the 
fame  time,  which  at  laft  coming  to  nothing,  the  adventurers 
took  up  their  refidence  on  the  iiland  of  Cayenne.  In  1643, 
fome  merchants  of  R.ouen  united  their  ftock,  with  a  defign 
to  fupport  the  new  colony,  but  committing  their  affairs  to  one 
Poncet  de  Bretigny,  a  man  of  a  ferocious  dilpofition,  he  de- 
clared war  both  againfl;  the  colonifts  and  favages,  in  confcquence 
of  which  he  was  loon  maffacred.  This  cataftrophe  entirely  ex- 
tinguifhed  the  ardour  of  thefe  affociates ;  and  in  1651  anew 
company  was  eftabliflned.  This  promifed  to  be  much  more  con-r 
ftderable  than  the  former  ;  and  they  fet  out  with  fuch  a  capital  as> 
pnablard  them  to  colleft  feven  or  eight  hundred  colonifts  in  the 
city  of  Paris  itfelf.  Thefe  embarked  on  the  Seine  in  order  to 
fail  V  down  to  Havre  de  Grace,  but  unfortunately  the  Abbe  de 
Marivault,  a  man  of  great  virtue,  and  the  princfpal  promoter 
of  the  undertaking,  w^as  drowned  as  he  was  ftepping  into  his 
boat.  Another  gentleman  who  was  to  have  a£tcd  as  general, 
was  affallinated  on  his  paffage  ;  and  twelve  of  the  principal 
adventurers  who  had  promiied  to  put  the  colony  into  a  flou- 
rifhing  fituation,  not  only  were  the  principal  perpetrators  of 
this  aft,  but  uniformly  behaved  in  the  fame  atrocious  manner. 
At  laft  they  hanged  one  of  their  own  number,  two  died,  three 
were  banilhed  to  a  defert  ifland,  and  the  reft  abandoned  them- 
felves  to  every  kind  of  excels.  The  commandant  of  the 
citadel  deferted  to  the  Dutch  with  part  of  his  garrifon.  The 
favages,  roufed  by  numberlefs  provocations,  fell  upon  the  re- 
rrjainder ;  fo  that  the  few  who  were  left,  thought  themfelves 
happy  in  efcaping  to  the  Leeward  iflands  in  a  boat  and  two 
canoes,  abandoning'  the  fort,  ammunition,  arms,  and  mcrchan- 
dife,  fifteen  months  after  they  had  landed  on  the  ifland. 

In  1663,  a  new  company  was  formed,  whofe  capital  amount- 
ed only  to  eight  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 
By  the  afliftance  of  the  miniftry  they  expelled  the  Dutch,  who 
had  taken  pofTeflion  of  the  ifland,  and  fettled  themfelves  much 
more  comfortable  than  their  predeceflors.  In  1667,  the  ifland 
was  taken  by  the  Englifti,  and  in  1676  by  the  Dutch,  but 
afterwards  reftored  to  the  French,  and  fmce  that  time  has  never 
been  attacked.  Soon  after,  fome  pirates,  laden  with  the  fpoils 
they  had  gathered  in  the  South  feas,  came  and  fixed  their 
refidence  at  Cayenne,  refolving  to  employ  the  treafures  they 
had  acquired  in  the  cultivation  of  the  lands.  In  1688,  Ducaffc, 
an    able   feaman,    arrived    with   fome    fliips   from    France,    and 


£14  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION,  &c, 

propofed  to  them  the  plundering  of  Surinam.  This  propofal 
excited  their  natural  turn  for  plunder,  the  pirates  betook  them- 
lelves  to  their  old  trade,  and  almoft  all  the  reft  followed  their 
example.  The  expedition,  however,  proved  unfortunate ; 
many  of  the  affailants  were  killed,  and  all  the  reft  taken 
prifoners  and  fent  to  the  Caribbee  iflands.  This  lofs  the  colony 
has  never  yet  recovered. 

The  ifland  of  Cayenne  is  about  fixteen  leagues  in  circum- 
ference, and  is  only  parted  from  the  continent  by  two  rivers. 
By  a  particular  formation,  uncommon  in  iflands,  the  land  is 
higheft  near  the  water  fide,  and  low  in  the  middle.  Hence 
the  land  is  fo  full  of  morifTes,  that  all  communication  between 
the  different  parts  of  it  is  impoffiblc,  without  taking  a  great 
circuit.  There  are  fome  fmall  trafts  of  an  excellent  foil  to  be 
found  here  and  there ;  but  the  generality  is  dry,  fandy,  and 
foon  exhaufted.  The  ojjly  town  in  the  colony  is  defended  by  a 
covert  way,  a  large  ditch,  a  very  good  mud  rampart,  and  five 
baftions.  In  the  middle  of  the  town  is  a  pretty  confiderable 
eminence,  of  which  a  redoubt  has  been  made  that  is  called  the 
fort.  The  entrance  into  the  harbour  is  through  a  narrow  chan- 
nel, and  fliips  can  only  get  in  at  low  water  owing  to  the  rocks 
and  reefs  that  are  fcattered  about  this  pafs. 

The  firft  produce  of  Cayenne  was  the  arnotto,  from  the 
produce  of  which,  the  colonifts  proceeded  to  that  of  cotton, 
indigo,  and  laftly,  fugar.  It  was  the  firft  of  all  the  French 
colonies  that  attempted  to  cultivate  coffee.  The  coffee  tree 
was  brought  from  Surinam  in  1721,  by  feme  deferters  from 
Cayenne,  who  purchafed  their  pardon  by  fo  doing.  Ten  or 
twelve  years  after  ihcy  planted  cocoa;  we  have  very  little 
account  of  the  produce  with  refpcft  to  quantity,  but  as  far  back 
3S  the  year  17.52,  there  were  exported  from  Cayenne  two  hun- 
dred and  fixty  thoufand  five  hundred  and  forty-one  pournds  of 
arnotto,  eighty  thoufand  three  hundred  rnd  fixty-lhree  pounds 
of  fugar,  feventeen  thouland  nine  hundred  and  nineteen  pounds 
of  cotton,  t'.venty-fix  tiioufand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-one 
pounds  of  coffee,  ninety-one  thoufand  nine  hundred  and  fix- 
teen pounds  of  cocoa,  fix  hundred  and  eighteen  trees  for 
timber,  and  one  Iiundred  and  four  planks.  , 


(       215      ) 


DUTCH   POSSESSIONS 


SOUTH^JMERICJ. 


^— ;  <■  <-<-^-4» ^ »y»->-> — -'' 


SURINAM,  OR  DUTCH  GUIANA. 


X  HIS  province,  the  only  one  belonging  to  the  Dutch  on  the 
continent  of  America,  is  fituated  between  5''  and  7?  north 
latitude,  having  the  mouth  of  the  Oronoko  and  the  Atlantic, 
on  the  north  ;  Cayenne,  on  the  eaft ;  Amazonia,  on  the  fouth  ; 
and  Terra  Firma  on  the  weft, 

I'he  Dutch  claim  the  whole  coafl  from  the  mouth  of  Oro- 
noko to  the  river  Marowyne,  on  which  are  fituated  their 
colonies  of  Effequibo,  Demcrara,  Berbice,  and  Surinam.  Ths  j^ 
latter  begins  with  the  river  Saramacha,  and  ends  with  the 
Marowyne,  including  a  length  of  cOaft  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles. 

A  number  of  fine  rivers  pafs  through  this  couritry,  the  prin- 
cipal uf  which  are  Effequibo,  Surinam,  Demerara,  Berbice, 
and  Conya.  Effequibo  is  niiie  miles  wide  2t  its  mouth,  and 
is  more  than  three  hundred  miles  in  length.  Surinam  is  a 
beautiful  river,  three  quarters  of  a  mile  wide,  navigable  for 
the  largeft  veffels  four  leagues,  and  for  fmaller  veftels  fixty  or 
fcventy  miles  farther.  Its  bcinks,  quite  to  the  water's  edge,  arc 
covered  with  evergreen  mangrove  trees,  which  render  the 
paffage  up  this  river  very  deligluFul.  The  Demerara  is  about 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  wide  where  it  empties  into  the  Suri- 
namj  is    navigable   for  large  vefftls  one  hundred  miles  _:  a  hun- 


^i6  CEXERAL    DESCRIPTlN' 

v '.         _    .-  V   .'  _        -       .     ■'     ,    ■    ■ 

dred  miles  farther  are  feveral  falls  of  eafy  afcenf,  above  whidi 
itdivid(?s  into  (he  fouth-weft  and  fouth-eaft'branches.'''''^^  '' 
-  The  witer  of  the  ■  lower  parts  in  the  river  is  brack ifh^^'^'ind 
unfit  fof  ufe  f'^d  the  inhabitants  are  obliged  to  iriaUe  u'fd' of 
irain  water,  -Which"  is  here  uncommonly  fweet  and  good.  It^ is 
caught  itffeiflerhs  placed  undei^  ground,  and  before  drinking,  is 
fet  in  large  earthen  pots  to  fettle,  by  which  means  it  become^ 
very '  clear  and  wholefome.  Thefe  cifterns  are  lb  large  aha 
ii'unibir6us',"' that'^va'fer  is  feldom  fcarce. 

In  the  "months  of  September,  Oftober,  and  November,  the 
climate  is  unlxeakhy,  particularly  to  ftrangcrs.  The  common 
difeafes  ite  putrid  and  other  fevers,  the  dry  bellj'-adif, ''' a^H 
the  dropfy.  One  hundred^  miles  back  from  the  fea,  the  Toil 
is  quite  different,  a  hilly  country,  a  pure,  dry,  wholefome 
air,  where  a  fire  fometimes  would  not  be  difagreeable.  Alonjj? 
the  fea  coafl  the  water  is  unwholefome,  the  air  damp  and  rultryi' 
The  thermometor  ranges  from  75"^  to  90**  through  the  year. 
A  north-eaft  breeze  never  fails  to  blow  from  about  nine  o'clock 
in  the  morning  through  the  day,  in  the  hottelt  fea  fens.  As 
the  days  and  nights  throughout  the  year  are  very  nearly  of 
an  equal  length,  the  air  can  never  becc)me  extremely  heated^ 
nor  the  inhabitants  fo  greatly  incommoded  by  the  heat,  as 
thofe  who  live  at  a  greater  diflance  from  the  equator.  The 
feafons  were  formerly  divided  regularly  into  rainy  and  drV ; 
but  of  late  years  fo  much  dependence  cannot  be  placed  upon 
tbem,    owing    probably    to   the    country's   being    more   cleared, 

by    which  means    a   free   paffage    is   opened   for    ihe    Sir   ancj 

^un  nii.i . .  i    isv/on:- 

vapours. 

Through  the  whole  country  runs  a  ridge  of  oyfler  fhelfi?,'- 
nearly  parallel  to  the  coaft,  but  three  or  four  leagues  from  if, 
of  a  confiderable  breadth,  and  from  four  to  eight  fee:!:  dcep^ 
compofed  of  fhells  exaftly  of  the  fame  nature  as  tHofe  whicli 
form  the  prelcnt  coaft  :  from  this  and  other  circumftances, 
there  is  great  reafon  to  believe  that  the  land,  from  that  diflance 
fiom  the  Tea,  is  all  new  land,  rcfcued  from  the  Water  by  Tome 
revolution  in  nature,  or  other  unknown  oaufe. 

On  each  fide  of  the  rivers  and  creeks  are  fituated  the  plan- 
tations, containing  from  five  hundred  to  two  thoufand  acres 
each,  in  number  about  five  hundred  and  fifty  in  the'  whole 
colony,  producing  at  prefcnt  annually  about  fixleen  thoufand 
hogfhcads  of  fugar,  twelve  million  pounds  of  coffee,  fcvea 
hundred  thoufand  pounds  of  cocba,  eight  hundred  and  fifty 
thoufand  pounds  of  cotton  :  all  which  articles,  cotton  exce'p'ted,' 


OF  SURINAM,  OR  DUTCH  GUIANA,         ai? 

have  fallen  ofF  within  fifteen  years,  at  leaft  orle  third,  owing 
to  bad  management,  both  here  and  in  Holland,  and  to  other 
caufes.  Of  the  proprietors  of  thefe  plantations,  not  above 
eighty  refide  here.  The  fugar  plantations  have  many  of  them 
tvater  mills,  which  being  much  more  profitable  than  others, 
iand  thie  fituation  of  the  colony  admitiiing  of  them,  will  proba- 
bly become  general  ;  of  the  reft,  fome  are  worked  by  mules, 
others  by  cattle,  but  from  the  lowhefs  of  the  country  none  by 
the  wind.  The  eflates  are  for  the  greateft  part  mortgaged  for 
as  much  or  more  than  they  are  worth,  which  greatly  dilcou- 
rages  any  improvements  which  might  otherwife  be  mude.  VV'as 
it  not  for  the  unfortunate  fituation  of  the  colony  in  this  and 
other  refpefts,  it  is  certainly  capable  of  being  brought  to  a 
great  height  of  improvement  ;  dyes,  gums,  oils,  plants  for 
medicinal  purpofes,  See,  might,  and  undoubtedly  will,  at  lome 
future  period,  be  found  in  abundance.  Rum  might  be  dif- 
tUled  here  ;  indigo,  ginger,  rice  and  tobacco,  have  been,  and 
may  be  farther  culiivated,  and  many  other  articles.  In  the 
woods  are  found  miny  Jiinds  of  good  and  durable  timber,  and 
feme  woods  for  ornamental  pUrpofes,  particularly  a  kind  of 
iriahogany  called  copic.  The  foil  is  perhaps  as  rich  and  as 
luxuriant  as  any  in  the  world  ;  it  is  generally  a  rich,  fat,  loam)'' 
earth,  lying  in  lome  places  above  the  level  of  the  rivers  at  high 
water,  which  rife  about  eight  feet,  but  in  mod  places  below  it. 
Whenever,  from  a  continued  courfe  of  cultivation  for  many 
years,  a  piece  of  land  becomes  impoverifhed,  for  manure  is  not 
known  here,  it  is  laid  under  water  for  a  certain  number  of 
years,  and  thereby  regains  its  fertility,  and  in  the  mean  time  a 
new  piece  of  wood  land  is  cleared;  This  country  has  never 
experienced  thofe  dreadful  fcourages  of  the  Weft-Indies,  hurri- 
canes and  droughts  ;  from  the  lownefs  of  the  land  it  has  not 
to  fear^  nor  has  the  produce  ever  been  deftroyed  by  infers  or 
by  the  blafl:.  In  {hort,  this  colony,  by  proper  management, 
might  become  equal  to  Jamaica^  or  any  other.  Land  is  not 
wanting  ;  it  is  finely  interfefted  by  noble  rivers,  and  abundant 
creeks  ;  the  foil  is  of  the  beft  kind ;  it  is  well  fiiuated,  and 
the  climate  is  not  very  unhealthy  :  it  is  certainly  growing 
better,  and  will  continue  fo  to  do,  the  more  the  country  is 
cleared  of  its  woods,  and  cultivated. 

The  rivers  abound  with  fifh,  fome  of  which  are  good  ;  at  cer- 
tain leafons  of  the  year  there  is  plenty  of  turtle.  The  woods 
abound  with  plenty  of  deer,    hares,   and  rabbits,  a  kind  of  buifa- 

Ff 


2i^  CEXERAL    DESCRIPTION 

loc,  and   two  fpecics  of  wild  hogs,  one  of  which,    the  peccary, 
is  remaikable  for  having  its  navel  on  the  back. 

The  woods  are  iufeflL-d  with  fcvcral  fpecies  of  tigers,  but  with 
no  other  ravenous  or  dangerous  animals.  The  rivers  are  ren- 
'dercd  dangerous  by  alligators,  from  four  to  feven  feet  long,  and  a 
mjn  was  a  fliort  time  lincc  crufhed  between  the  jaws  of  a  fifb, 
but  its  name  is  not  known.  Scorpions  and  tarantulas  arc  found 
here  oT  a  large  fize  and  great  venom,  and  other  infects  without 
rrumber,  loine  of  them  very  dangerous  and  IroublefoiTie.  The 
torporific  ccl,  the  touch  of  which,  by  means  of  the  bare  hand 
or  any  condu£l(;r,  has  the  efl'cft  of  a  ftrong  elcctrica-l  Ihock. 
Serijenls  alio,  loine  of  wliich  arc  venomous,  and  others,  as  has 
been  allcitcd  by  many  credible  perfons,  are  from  tweatv-five  to 
fifty  feet  long.  In  the  woods  are  monkey's,  the  floth,  and  par- 
rots in  all  their  varieties  ;  alio  iome  birds  of  beautiful  plumage, 
among  others  the  flamingo,  but  few  or  no  fmging  birds. 

Paramaribo,  htuated  on  Surinam  river,  four  leagues  from  the 
fca,  north  latitude  6®,  weft  longitude  55*^  from  Greenwich,  is 
the  principal  town  in  Surinam.  It  contains  about  two  ihouiand 
whites,  one  half  of  whom  are  Jews,  and  eight  thouiand  flaves. 
The  houles  are  principally  of  wood,  fome  few  have  glals  win-* 
dovvs,  but  generrilly  they  have  wooden  fhutters.  The  ftreets  are 
fpacious  and  ftraight,  and  planted  on  each  lide  with  orange  or 
tamarind   trees. 

About  feventy  miles  frotn  the  fea,  on  the  fame  river,  is  at 
village  of  about  forty  or  fifty  houies,  inhabited  by  Jews.  This' 
village,  and  the  town  above  mentioned,  with  the  intervening 
plantations,  contain  all  the  inhabitants  in  this  colony,  which 
amount  to  three  thoufand  two  hundied  whites,  and  forty-three 
thoufand  flaves.  T"he  buildings  on  the  plantations  arc  many  of 
them  coftly,  convenient,  and  airy.  The  country  around:  is  thin- 
ly inhabited  with  the  native  Indians,  a  harmlels  friendly  race  of 
beings.  They  are,  in  general,  fliort  of  flatuie,  but  remarkably 
well' made,  of  a  light  copper  colour,  ftraight  black  hair,  without 
beards,  high  cheek  bones,  and  broad  fhoulders.  In  their  ears, 
nofes,  and  hair  the  women  wear  ornaments  of  filver,  &c.  Botlr 
men  'and  v/orr.en  go  naked.  One  nation  or  tribe  of  them  tie 
the  lower  ])art  of  the  legs  of  the  female  children,  when  young, 
with  a  cord  bound  very  tight  for  the  breadth  of  fix  inches  about 
the  ancle,  which  cord  is  never  afterwards  taken  off  but  to  put 
on  a  ncv/  one,  by  which  means  the  flcfli,  which  fliould  otherwife 
grow  on  that  part  of  the  leg,  increales  the  calf  to  a  great  fize, 
and  leaves  the  bone  below  nearly  bare.  This,  though  it  muft 
jcndcr  them  very  weak,   is  reckoned  a  great   beauty   by   them. 


OF  SURINAM,    OR  DUTCH  GUI  ANA.         2:9 

The  language  of  the  Indians  appears  to  be  very  fofr.  Tl.cy  are 
mortal  enemies  to  every  kind  of  labour,  but  Deverthelefs  m.inu- 
fafture  a  few  articles,  fuch  as  very  fine  cotton  hammocks,  ear- 
then water  pots,  bafkets,  a  red  or  yc!io^\'  dye  called  roucau,  nna. 
lome  other  trifles,  all  which  they  exchange  for  luch  articles  r> 
they    (land  in  need  of. 

They  paint  themfelves  red,  and  fomc  are  curioufly  figured. 
with  black.  Their  food  confifts  chieflv  of  filh  and  crabs;  and 
cafTava,  of  which  they  plant  great  quantities,  and  this  is  almoft 
the  only  produce  they  attend  to.  They  cannot  be  faid  to  be 
abfolutely  wandering  tribes,  but  their  huts  being  nicely  a  few 
crois  flicks  covered  with  branches,  fo  as  to  defend  them  from 
the  rain  and  fun,  they  frequently  quit  their  habitations,  if  thev 
fee  occafion,  and  eftablilb  them  elfewhere.  They  do  not  fliua 
the  whites,  and  have  been  lerviceable  againft  the  runaway  ne- 
groes, 

Dr.  Bancroft  obfervcs,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Dutch  Guiana 
are  either  whites,  blacks,  or  the  reddifh  brown  abori?inal  na- 
tives.  Tiie  promiscuous  intercourfe  of  thefc  different  people 
have  generated  feveral  intermediate  cafts,  wiiofe  colours  depend 
on  their  degree  of  conlanguinity  to  eitlier  whites,  blacks,  ne- 
groes, or  Indians. 

The  river  Surinam  is  guarded  hv  a  fort  and  two  redoubts  at 
the  entrance,  and  a  fort  at  Paramaribo,  but  none  of  them  of  any 
flrength,  lo  that  one  or  two  frigates  v/ould  he  lufHcicnt  to  make 
themlelves  mailers  of  the  whole  colony,  ?.nd  never  ^^■,^s  there  .1 
people  who  inore  ardently  wilhed  for  a  change  of  government 
than  the  inhabitants  of  this  colony  do  at  this  ti:T!e,  The  many 
giievances  thev  labour  under,  and  the  i:w.\iexse  kurtiien  op 
TAXES,  which  threaten  the  ruin  of  the  colonv,  m.:ke  thcr.i  cx- 
culable  in  their  general  defire  to  change  tiie  Dutch  for  a  French 
government.  This  is  precilely  the  cafe  in  Europe,  tlie  taxes 
are  lo  enormous,  and  the  oppreffion  of  the  Stntholtierian  go- 
vernment lo  great,  that  we  may  venture  to  allcrt.  that  no  human 
power  fand  we  cannot  tlnnk  a  Dunne  one  tcill  intcrjercj  can  polli- 
bly  prevent  mitch  longer  a  revolution  from  taking  place. 

The  colony  is  not  iminediatcly  under  the  States' General,  but 
under  a  company  in  Holland,  called  the  Dirctlors  of  Surinam, 
a  company  firft  formed  by  the  Stntes  General,  but  now  fupply- 
fng  its  own  vacancies  ;  by  thern  are  appointed  the  governor  and 
all  the  principal  CiHcers  both  civil  ajid  mihtary.  Tlie  interior 
government  confills  of  a  governor,  and  a  fuprcirc  and  inferior 
council  ;   the  members  of  the  latter    aic  chofc:\  by  t!ie  governor 

I'  f   2 


2*o  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

from  a  double  riominaticn  of  the  principal  inhabitant?,  j^nd 
thoie  of  the  former  in  the  lame  manner.  By  thefe  powers,  an4 
by  a  magiftrate  prefiding  over  all  criminal  affairs,  juftice  is  exe- 
cuted, and  laws  are  enafted  neceflTary  for  the  interior  govern- 
ment of  the  colony  ;  thofe  of  a  wore  general  and  public  natyrc, 
are  ena^ed  by  the  direftors,  and  req^uire  no  approbation  by  the. 
court. 

The  colony  i^  guarded  by  about  one  thoufand  fix  hundred 
regular  troops,  paid  by  the  direftors.  Thefe  troops,  together 
with  a  corps  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  free  negroes,  paid 
by -the  Dutch  government,  and  another  fmali  corps  of  chaffeurs, 
and  as  liiany  flaves  as  the  court  thinks  fit  to  order  from  the 
planters,  from  time  to  time,  are  difperfed  at  pofts  placed  at  pro- 
per diftances  on  a  cordon,  lurrounding  the  colony  on  the  land 
fide,  in  order,  as  far  as  pofllble,  to  defend  the  diftant  plantations 
and  the  colony  in  general,  from  the  attacks  of  feveral  dangerous 
bands  of  runaway  flaves,  which  from  very  fmall  beginnings 
have,  from  the  natural  prolificacy  of  the  negro  race,  and  the 
continual  addition  of  frefh  fugitives,  arrived  at  fuch  a  height 
Ss  to  have  cofl  the  country  very  great  fums  of  money,  and 
much  lofs  of  men,  without  being  able  to  do  thefe  negroes  any 
effc6;ual  injury. 

The  colony  was  firft  podeffed  by  the  French  as  early  as  the 
year  1630  or  4P,  and  was  abandoned  by  them  on  account  of  its 
unheaithy  climate.  In  the  year  1650  it  was  taken  by  fom« 
Euglifhmen,  and  in  1662  a  charter  grant  was  made  of  it  by 
Chailes  II;  About  this  time  it  was  conhderably  augmented  by 
the  lettlement  of  a  number  of  Jews,  who  had  been  driven  out 
of  Cayenne  and  the  Brrafils,  whofe  defcendants,  with  other 
Jcwsf.compofc  at  prefent  one  half  of  the  white  inhabitants  of 
the  culony,  and  are  allowed  great  privileges.  In  1667  it  was 
tdkcp  by  the  Dutch,  and  the  Englifli  having  got  poffelfion  about 
tlie  fame  time  of  the  then- Dutch  colony  of  New-York,  each 
party  retained  its  conquell  ;  the  Englifh  planters  moft  of  them 
iciircd  to  Jam-iica,  leaving  their  flaves  behind  them,  whofe  lan- 
guage is  ilill  Englifli,  but  fo  cctiupted  as  not  to  be  underfloo^ 
at  firft  by  an  EngUfhmano 


(      221       ) 


ABORIGINAL  AMERieA. 


OR     THAT     PART     WHICH 


THE  ABORIGINAL  INDIANS  POSSESS. 


•<"<"«<4-f-  •^>.>.> . 


AMAZONIA. 


A. 


-MAZONIA  is  fituated  between  the  equator  and  20®  fouth 
latitude ;  its  length  is  one  thuuland  four  hundred  miles,  and 
its  breadth  nine  hundred  miles  :  it  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Terra  Firma  and  Guiana  ;  on  the  eaft  by  Brafil ;  on  the  fouth 
by  Paraguay  ;   and  on  the  weft  by  Peru. 

The  air  is  cooler  in  this  country  than  could  be  expefted, 
confidering  it  is  fituated  in  the  torrid  zone.  This  is  partly 
owing  to  the  heavy  rains  which  occalion  the  rivers  to  overflow 
their  banks  one-half  of  the  year,  and  partly  to  the  cloudinefs 
of  the  weather,  \yhich  obfcures  the  fun  great  part  of  the  time 
he  is  above  the  horizon.  During  the  rainy  fealbn  the  country 
is  fubje£t  to  dreadful  ftorms  of  thunder  and  lightning. 

The  foil  is  extremely  fertile,  producing  cocoa  nuts,  pine 
apples,  bananas,  plantains,  and  a  great  variety  of  tropical 
fruits  ;  cedar,  redwood,  pak,  ebony,  logwood,  and  many  other 
forts  of  dying  wood  ;  together  with  tobacco,  fugar  canes, 
cotton,  potatoes,  balfam,  honey,  &c.  The  woods  abound  with 
tigers,  wild  boars,  buffaloes,  deer,  and  game  of  various  kinds. 
The  rivers  and  lakes  abound  with  filh.  Here  are  alfo  fea-cows 
and  turtles  ;  but  the  crocodiles  and  water  ferpcnts  render  fifh- 
ing  a  dangerous  employment. 

The  river  Amazon  is  the  largeft  in  the  known  world.  This 
river,  fo  famous  for  the  length  of  its  courfe,  this  great  vaflTal 
of  the  fea,  to  which  it  brings  the  tribute  it  has  received  from 
fo  many  of  its  own  tributaries,  feems  to  be  produced  by  innu- 
merable torrents,  which  rufh  down  with  amazing  impetuofity 
from    the   eafiern   declivity   of  the   Andes,  and   unite  in  a  fpa- 


223  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

cious  plain  to  form  this  immenfe  river.  In  its  progrefs  of 
three  thoufand  three  liundred  miles  it  receives  the  waters  of  a 
prodigious  number  of  rivers,  fome  of  which  come  from  far, 
and  arc  very  broad  and  deep.  It  is  interfperfed  witli  an  infinite 
number  of  iflands,  which  are  too  often  overflowed  to  admit  of 
culture  ;  it  falls  Into  the  Atlantic  ocean  under  the  equator,  and 
is  there  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  broad. 

The  natives  of' this  country,  like  all  the  other  Americans, 
are  of  a  good  ftaturc,  have  handlome  features,  long  black  hair, 
and  co.jper  complexions.  They  are  faid  to  have  a  tafle  for  the 
imitative  arts,  efpcciully  painting  and  fculpturc,  and  make  good 
mechanics.  Tiieir  cordage  is  m;ide  of  the  barks  of  trees,  and 
their  fails  of  cotton,  their  hatchets  of  tortoife  fhells  or  hard 
(lones,  their  chifcls,  plains  and  wimbles,  of  the  horns  and 
teeth  of  wild  beafls,  and  their  canoes  are  trees  hollowed.  They 
fpin  and  weave  cotton  cloth,  build  their  houfes  with  wood  and 
clay,  and  thatch  them  with  reeds.  Their  arms  in  general  are 
darts  and  javelins,  bows  and  arrows,  with  targets  of  cane  or 
fiih  fkins.  The  feveral  nations  are  governed  by  their  chiefs  or 
caziques  ;  it  being  oblervahlc,  that  the  monarchird  form  of  go- 
vernment has  prevailed  almofh  univerlally,  both  among  ancient 
and  nudeni  barbarians,  doubtlefs  on  account  of  its  fuperior 
advantages  with  refpcft  to  war  and  rapine,  and  as  requiring  a 
much  lels  refined  policy  than  the  republican  lydcm,  and  thcie- 
forc  bcfl  adapted  for  the  favage  flate.  The  regalia,  which  dif- 
tinguifli  the  chiefs,  are  a  crown  of  parrots  feathers,  a  chain 
of  tygcrs  teeth  or  chws,  which  hnrgs  round  the  waifl:,  and  a 
wooden  Iword,  which,  according  to  (oir.e  authors,  were  iii-r 
tended  for  hieroglyphics. 

As  c?ily  as  the  time  of  Hercules  and  Thefeus,  the  Greeks 
hid  imngined  the  exiilence  of  a  nation  of  Amnzons  ;  with  this; 
fible  they  embellifncd  the  hiftory  of  all  thc*ir  heroes,  not  ex- 
cepting tliat  of  Alexander;  and  the  Spaniards,  infatuated  v.'ith 
this  dream  of  antiquity,  transferred  it  to  America.  They 
reported,  thit  a  republic  of  female  warriors  n£lujl!y  sx'.ftcd  in 
America,  who  did  not  live  in  focicty  wir.h  men,  and  only 
admitted  them  once  a  year  for  the  purpofcs  of  iprocrcation.  To 
give  the,  more  crcdi;;  to  this  romantic  fl-ory,  it  was  reported, 
not  without  re;ifon,  that  the  v/crncn  in  Amci  ;c,i  were  all  fo 
unhappy,  and  were  tsented  with  luth  contempt  and  inhumanity 
by  the  men,  that  m.inv  of  them  had  ag'-eed  to  rad<e  ofF  tho 
•'yoke  of  their  tyrants.  It  was  farther  (aid,  that  being  accuf- 
tomcd  to  follow  the    inon    into    the    fore'us.   and    to    carry  theii;- 


OF    AMAZONIA,  223 

provifions  and  baggnge  when  they  went  out  to  fight  or  to 
hunt,  they  muft  neceffarily  have  been  inured  to  hardfhips, 
and  rendered  capable  of  forming  fo  bold  a  refolution.  Since 
this  ftory  has  been  pvopagatedj  infinite  pains  have  been  taken 
to  find  out  the  truth  of  it,  but  no  traces  could  ever  be 
di  (covered. 

The  mind  of  a  good  man  is  plea/ed  with  the  refleftion^ 
that  any  part  of  South-America  has  efcaped  the  ravages  of 
European  tyi'ants.  This  country  has  hitherto  remained  un- 
llibdued  ;  the  original  inhabitants,  therefore,  enjoy  their  native 
freedom  and  independence,  the  birthright  of  every  human 
beingi 


C      224      ) 

Patagonia, 


X  ATAGONIA  is  fituated  between  35*  and  54<>  fouth  lati- 
tude its  length  is  eleven  hundred  miles,  and  its  breadth  three 
hundred  and"  Hfty  :  it  is  bounded  north  by  Chili  and  Paragua  ; 
eaft  by  the  Atlantic  ocean  ;  fouth  by  the  ftraits  of  Magellan  ; 
weft  by  the  Pacific  ocean. 

The  climate  is  faid  to  be  much  colder  in  this  country  than 
in  the  north  under  the  fame  parallels  of  latitude,  which  is 
imputed  to  the  Andes,  which  pafs  through  it,  being  covered 
with  eternal  fnow  :  it  is  almoft  impofifible  to  fay  what  the  foil 
would  produce,  as  it  is  not  at  all  cultivated  by  the  riatives. 
The  northern  parts  are  covered  with  wood,  among  which  is 
an  inexhaullible  fund  of  large  timber  ;  but  towards  the  Ibuth', 
it  is  faid,  thefe  is  not  a  fingle  tree  large  enough  to  be  of 
ufe  to  mechanics.  There  are,  however,  good  pafiures,  which 
feed  incredible  numbers  of  horned  cattle  and  horfes  firft  car- 
ried there  by  the  Spaniards,  and  now  increafed  in  an  amazing 
degree. 

It  is  inhabited  by  a  variety  of  Indian  tribes,  among  which 
are  the  Patagons,  from  whom  the  country  takes  its  name,  the 
Pampas  and  the  Goffores :  they  all  live  upon  fifh  and  game, 
and  what  the  earth  produces  fpontaneoufly  :  their  huts  are 
thatched,  and,  notwithflanding  the  rigour  of  the  climate,  they 
wear  no  other  clothes  than  a  mantle  made  of  feal  flcin,  or  the 
flcin  of  fome  bead,  and  that  they  throvv  off  when  they  are 
In  aftion  :  they  are  exceedingly  hardy,  brave  and  aftive,  mak- 
ing ufe  of  their  arms,  v/hich  are  bows  and  arrows  headed  with 
flints,   with  amazing  dexterity. 

Magellan,  who  firft  difcovered  the  ftraits  which  bear  his 
name,  and  after  him  Commodore  Byron,  have  repoi-ted,  that 
there  exifts,  in  thefe  regions,  a  race  of  giants ;  but  others, 
who  have  failed  this  way  contradift  the  report.  Upon  the 
whole  we  may  conclude,  that  this  ftory  is,  perhaps,  like  that 
of  the  female  republic  of  Amazons, 

The  Spaniards  once  built  a  fort  upon  the  ftraits,  and  left  z 
garrifon  in  it  to  prevent  any  other  European  nation  pafling 
r.iiat  way  into  the  Pacific  ocean  ;  but  moft  of  the  men  pcriflied 


OF    PATAGONIA.  225 

by  hunger,  whence  the  place  obtained  the  name  of  port  Famine, 
and  fince  that  fatal  event,  no  nation  has  attempted  to  plant  colo* 
■  nies  in  Patagonia.  As  to  the  religion  or  government  of  thefe 
favages,  we  have  no  certain  information  :  feme  have  reported, 
that  thefe  people  believe  in  invihble  powers,  both  good  and  evil  ; 
and  that  they  pay  a  tribute  of  gratitude  to  the  one,  and  deprecate 
the  wratli  and  vengeance  of  the  other.  , 

GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

AVe  have  now  traverfcd  the  feveral  provinces  of  that  exten- 
five-  region,  which  is  comprehended  between  the  ifthmus  of 
Darien  and  the  fifty-fourth  degree  of  fouth  latitude.  We  have 
taken  a  curfory  view  of  the  rivers,  the  foil,  the  climate,  the  pro- 
duftions,   the  icommeirce,  the  inhabitants,  &c. 

The  hiftory  of  Columbus,  together  with  his  bold  and  adven- 
turous aftions  in  the  difcovery  of  this  country,  we  have  but 
flighlly  noticed  in  this  account,  as  we  had  done  this  in  a  pre- 
ceding part  of  this  work,*  His  elevated  mind  fuggefled  to  hini 
ideas  fupcrior  to  any  other  man  of  his  age,  and  his  afpiring  ge- 
nius prompted  hini  to  make  greater  and  more  noble  efforts  for 
new  discoveries  :  he  croffed  the  extenfive  Atlantic,  and  brought 
to  view  a  world  unheard  of  by  the  people  of  the  ancient  hem- 
ifphere.  This  excited  an  enterprifing,  avaricious,  fpirit  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Europe  ;  and  they  flocked  to  America  for  the 
purpol'es  of  plunder.  In  confequence  of  which,  a  fcene  of  bai- 
barity  has  been  afted,  of  which  South-America  has  been  the 
principal  theatre,  which  fhocks  the  human  mind,  and  almofl  lla^r- 
gers  belief.  No  fooner  had  the  Spaniards  fet  foot  upon  the 
American  continent,  than  they  laid  claim  to  the  ioil^  to  (he 
mines,  and  to  the  fervices  of  the  natives,  wherever  they  came,. 
Countries  were  invaded,  kingdoms  were  overturned,  innocence 
was  attacked,  and  happinefs  had  no  afylum.  Diifpotifm  and 
cruelty,  with  all  their  terrible  fcourges,  attended  their  advances 
in  every  part  :  they  went  forth,  they  conquered,  they  ravaged, 
they  deftroyed  :  no  deceit,  no  cruelty,  was  too  great  to  be  made 
ufe  of  to  latisfy  their  avarice  :  juflice  was  dilregarded,  and 
mercy  formed  no  part  of  the  characier  of  thefe  inhuman  con- 
querors :  they  were  intent  only  on  the  profecution  of  fchemes 
moft  degrading  and  mod  fcandalous  to  the  human  charatler.  In 
South'- America,  the  kingdoms  of  Terra  Firma,  of  Peru,  of  Chili, 
of  Paragua,  of  Brafil,  and  of  Guiana,  fuccelTively  fell  a  facrificc 
to   their    vicious   ambition  and  avarice.     The    hiftory   «f  their 

*  See  vol.  i.  page  i. 

Gg 


fi£6  CENERAL  description,  Bcc, 

feveral  reduftions  was  too  copious  to  be  inferted  at  large  in  a 
X^ork  of  this  kind  ;  but  we  have  endeavoured  to  afford  the  rea-i 
der  a  brief  view  of  thofe  tranfaftions  which  have  blailed  the 
charat^ier  of  all  thofe  who  had  any  thing  to  do  with  the  conqueffc 
of  this  part  of  the  globe.  Let  us  then  turn  from  thefe  diftreff- 
ing  fcenes  ;  let  us  leave  the  political  world,  where  nothing  but 
Ipeftacles  of  horror  are  prefented  to  our  view  ;  where  fcenes  of 
blood  and  carnage  diftraft  the  imagination  ;  where  the  avarice, 
injuftice  and  inhumanity  of  men,  furnifh  nothing  but  uneafy 
fenfations  ;  let  us  leave  thefe,  and  enter  the  natural  world, 
whofe  laws  are  conftant  and  uniform,  and  where  beautiful, 
grand  and  fublime  objefts  continually  prefent  themfelves  to  our 
view. 

We  have  given  a  defcription  of  thofe  beautiful  and  fpacious 
rivers  which  every  where  interfeft  this  country  ;  and  of  that 
immenfe  chain  of  mountains,  which  runs  from  one  end  of  the 
continent  to  the  other.  Thefe  enormous  malTes,  which  rife  to 
fuch  prodigious  heights  above  the  humble  furface  of  the  earth, 
where  almoft  all  mankind  have  fixed  their  reftdence  ;  thefe 
maffes,  which  in  one  part  are  crowned  with  impenetrable  and 
ancient  forefis,  that  have  never  refounded  with  the  firoke  of  the 
hatchet,  and  in  another,  raife  their  towering  tops,  and  arreft  the 
clouds  in  their  courfe,  while  in  other  parts  they  keep  the  travel- 
ler at  a  diflance  from  their  fummits,  either  by  ramparts  of  ice 
that  furround  them,  or  from  vollies  of  flame  ifTuing  forth  from 
the  frightful  and  yawning  caverns ;  thefe  maffes  giving  rife  to 
impetuous  torrents  defcending  with  dreadful  noife  from  their 
open  fides,  to  rivers,  fountains  and  boiling  fprings,  fill  every  be- 
holder with  aflonifhment. 

The  height  of  the  mofl  elevated  point  in  the  Pyrenees  is, 
according  to  Mr.  CofTini,  {\%  thoufand  fix  hundred  and  forty-fix 
feet.  The  height  of  the  mountain  Gemmi,  in  the  canton  of 
Berne,  is  ten  thoufand  one  hundred  and  ten  feet.  The  height 
of  the  peak  of  Teneriffe,  is  thirteen  thoufand  one  hundred  and 
feventy-eight  feet.  The  height  of  the  Chimborazo,  the  moft 
deVated  point  of  the  Andes,  is  twenty  thoufand  two  hundred 
atid  eighty  feet.  Thus,  upon  comparifon,  the  higheft  part  of  the 
Andes  is  feven  thoufand  one  hundred  and  two  feet  higher  thart 
the  peak  of  TencrifFe,  th«  moft  elevated  mountain  known  in  the 
j^cieat  hf^jnifphcre. 


(      227      ) 


HISTORY 


OF    THE 


WEST-INDIA    ISLANDS. 


X  HE  vaft  continent  of  America  is  divided  into  two  parts, 
North  and  South,  the  narrow  ifthmus  of  Darien  I'erving  as  a 
link  to  conned  them  together  ;  between  the  Florida  fhore  on  the 
northern  peninfula,  and  tlae  gulf  of  Maracabo  on  the  fouthern, 
lie  a  multitude  of  iflands,  which  are  called  the  Weft-Indies, 
from  the  name  of  India,  originally  aflfigned  to  them  by  Colum- 
bus ;  though,  in  confequence  of  the  opinions  of  feme  geogra- 
phers of  the  fifteenth  century,  they  are  frequently  known  by 
the  appellation  of  Antilia  or  Antilles  ;  this  term  is,  however, 
more  often  applied  to  the  windward  or  Caribbean  iflands. 

Subordinate  to  this  comprehenfive  and  fimple  arrangement, 
neceffity  or  convenience  has  introduced  more  local  diftinftions  : 
that  portion  of  the  Atlantic  which  is  feparated  from  the  main 
ocean  to  the  north  and  eaft.  by  the  iflands,  though  known 
by  the  general  appellation  of  the  Mexican  gulf,  is  itfelf 
properly  divided  into  three  diftin£t  parts  ;  the  gulf  of  Mex- 
ico, the  bay  of  Honduras,  and  the  Caribbean  fea,  fo  called 
from  that  clafs  of  iflands  which  bound  this  part  of  the  ocean 
on  the  eaft,  Df  this  clafs,  a  group  nearly  adjoining  to  th« 
caftern  fide  of  St.  John  de  Porto  Rico  is  likewife  called  the 
Virgin  ifles,*     The  name  of  Bahama  iflands  is  likewife  given,  or 

*  It  rnay  be  proper  to  obfervc,  that  the  old  Spanifti  navigators,  in  f^eakin^ 
of  the  Weft-India  iflands,  frequently  diftinguifh  them  into  two  clalfes,  by 
the  terms  Barlovento  and  Sotavcnto,  from  wlience  our  Windward  and  Leeward 
iilands,  the  Caribbean  conftituting,  in  ftri£l  propriety,  the  former  clafs,  and 
^e  iflands  of  Cuba,  Jamaica,  Hifpaniola  and  Porto  Rico  the  latter  ;  but  the 
Englifh  marines  appropriate  both  terms  to  the  Caribbeart  iflands  only,  fub. 
dividing  them  according  to  their  fuuation  in  the  courfe  of  trade  ;  the  Wind- 
ward iflands,  by  their  arrangement,  terminating,  I  believe,  with  Maitinico,  and 
the  Leeward  commencing  at  Dominica  and  extending  to  Porto  Rico.  £"</- 
tfixrd's  Hijl.  Vol.  I.  p.  5. 

G  g  2 


22g  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

applied,  by  the  Englifh,  to  a  cluRer  of  fmall  iflands,  rocks  and 
reefs  of  fand,  which  ftretch  in  a  notth-wefterly  diieftion  for 
the  fpace  of  nearly  three  hundred  leagues  from  the  northern 
coaft  of  Hifpaniola  to  the  Bahama  ftrait  oppofile  the  Florida 
fnore.* 

Such  of  the  above  iflands  as  are  worth  cultivation  now  belong 
to  Great-Britain,  Spain,  France,  HoLLAN"Dand  Denmark, 

The  British    claim 


Nevis, 

Montferrat, 

Barbuda, 

Anguilla, 

Bermudas, 

The  Bahama  iflands. 


Jamaica, 

Earbadoes, 

St,  Chriftopher's, 

Antigua, 

Grenada,  and  the  Grenadines, 

Dominica, 

St,  Vincent, 

The  Spaniards  claim 

Cuba,  Trinidad, 

Part  of  St.  Domingo,  or  Kif-  Margnretta, 

paniola,  Porto  Rico. 


The  French  claim 


Part  of  St.  Domingo, 
Martinico, 
Guadaloupe, 
St.  Luciaj 


St.  Bartholomew,  Defeada, 

Marigaiante, 
Tobago. 


The  Dlitch  claim 

CurafTou,  or  Curacoa. 


St.  Euftatiaj 
S^ba, 

The  Danes  claim 

The  iflands  of  St.   Croix,  St.  Thomas  and  St.  John's. 

The  climate  in  all  the  Weft-India  iflands  is  nearly  the  fame, 
allowing  for  thcfe  accidental  differences  which  the  feveral 
fituations  and  qualities  of  the  lands  themfelves  produce.  As 
they  lie  within  the  tropics,  and  the  fun  goes  quic-e  over  their 
heads,  pafTing  beyond  them  to  the  north,  and  never  returning 
farther  from  any  of  them  than  about  thirty  degrees  to  the 
louth,    they   would  be    continually   fubjefted  to   an  extreme  and 


*  The  v'l'Olc  group  is  called  by  the  Spaniards  Lucayo?, 


OF  THE  WEST'.INDIA  ISLANDS.  2251.. 

intolerable  heat,  if  the  trade  winds,  rifing  gradually  as  the  fun 
gathers  ftrength,  did  not  blow  in  upon  them  from  the  fea,  and 
refrefh  the  air  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  to  enable  them  to  attend  • 
their  concerns  even  under  the  meridian  fun.  On  the  other 
hand,  as  the  night  advances,  a  breeze  begins  to  be  perceived, 
which  blows  fmartly  from  the  land,  as  it  were  from  the  center, 
towards  the  fea,  to  all  points  of  the  compafs  at  once.  ' 

By  the  fame  remarkable  Providence  in  the  difpofition  of 
things  it  is,  that  when  the  fun  has  made  a  great  progrefs  towards 
the  tropic  of  Cancer,  and  becomes  in  a  manner  verticle,  he 
draws  after  him  fuch  a  vaft  body  of  clouds,  which  fhield  them 
from  his  direft  beams,  and  diffolving  into  rain,  cool  the  air 
and  refrefli  the  country,  thirfty  with  the  long  drought,  which 
commonly  prevails  from  the  beginning  of  January  to  the  latter 
end  of  May. 

The  rains  in  the  Weft-Indies  are  like  floods  of  water  poured 
from  the  clouds  with  a  prodigious  impetuofity  ;  the  rivers 
fuddenly  rife  ;  new  rivers  and  lakes  are  formed,  and  in  a  fhort 
time  all  the  low  country  is  under  water.*  Hence  it  is,  that 
the  rivers  which  have  their  fource  within  the  tropics,  fwell 
and  overflow  their  banks  at  a  certain  feafon  ;  but  fo  miftaken 
were  the  ancients  in  their  idea  of  the  torrid  zone,  that  they 
imagined  it  to  be  dried  and  fcorched  up  with  a  continual  and 
fervent  heat,  and  to  be  for  that  reafon  uninhabitable  ;  when,  in 
reality,  fome  of  the  largeft  rivers  of  the  world  have  their  courfe 
within  its  limits,  and  the  moifture  is  one  of  the  greateft  incon- 
veniencies  of  the  climate  in  feveral  places. 

The  rains  make  the  only  diftinftion  of  feafons  in  the  Weft- 
Indies  ;  the  trees  are  green  the  whole  year  round  ;  they  have 
po  cold,  no  frofts,  no  fnows,  and  but  rarely  fome  hail  ;  the 
ftorms  of  hail  are,  however,  very  violent  when  they  happen, 
and  the  hailftones  very  great  and  heavy.  Whether  it  be  owing 
to  this  moifture,  which  alone  does  not  feem  to  be  a  fufiicient 
caufe,  or  to  a  greater  quantity  of  a  fulphurcous  acid,  which 
predominates  in  the  air  of  this  country,  metals  of  all  kinds 
that  are  fubjeft  to  the  aftion  of  fuch  caufes  ruft  and  canker 
in  a  very  fhort  time  ;  and  this  caufe,  perhaps,  as  much  as 
the  heat  itfelf  contributes  to  make  the  climate  of  the  Weft- 
Indies  unfriendly  and  unpleafant  to  an  European  conftitu- 
tion. 

It  is  in  the  rainy   feafon,  principally   in  the  month  of  Auguft, 
more  rarely    in   July   and  September,  that  they  are  affaulted   by 

*  "Wafer's  Jourpey  acrofs  the  Ifthmus  of  Parien. 


ft3o  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

hurricanes,  the  mod  terrible  calamity  to  which  they  are  fubjeft 
as  well  as  the  people  in  the  Eaft-Indies,  from  the  climate ;  this 
deftroys,  at  a  ftroke,  the  labours  of  many  years,  and  proftrates 
the  mod  exalted  hopes  of  the  planter,  and  at  the  the  moment 
when  he  thinks  himfelf  out  of  danger.  It  is  a  fudden  and 
violent  florm  of  wind,  rain,  thunder  and  lightning,  attended 
with  a  furious  fwelling  of  the  feas,  and  fometimes  with  an  earth- 
quake ;  in  fhort,  with  every  circumftance  which  the  elements 
can  aflemble  that  is  terrible  and  dgftruftive.  Firft,  they  fee 
a.  prelude  to  the  enfuing  havoc,  whole  fields  of  fugar-canes 
whirled  into  the  air,  and  fcattered  over  the  face  of  the  country. 
The  ftrongeft  trees  of  the  foreft  arc  torn  up  by  the  roots,  and 
driven  about  like  ftubblc  ;  their  windmills  are  fwept  away  in  a 
nioraent ;  their  utenfils,  the  fixtures,  the  ponderous  copper 
boilers,  and  ftills  of  feveral  hundred  weight,  are  wrenched 
from  the  ground  and  battered  to  pieces;  their  houfes  are  no 
proteftion  :  the  roofs  are  torn  off  at  one  blaft  ;  whilft  the  rain, 
which  in  an  hour  raifes  the  water  five  feet,  ruflies  in  upon  them 
with  an  irrefiftible  violence. 

The  grand  flaple  commodity  of  the  Weft-Indies  is  fugar ; 
this  commodity  was  not  at  all  known  to  the  Greeks  and  Ro^ 
mans,  though  it  was  made  in  China  in  very  early  times,  from 
whence  was  derived  the  firft  knowledge  of  it ;  but  the  Portu- 
guefe  were  the  firft  who  cultivated  it  in  America,  and  brought 
it  into  requeft,  as  one  of  the  materials  of  a  very  univerfal  lux» 
jiry  in  Europe.  It  is  not  determined,  whether  the  cane,  from 
which  this  fubftance  is  taken,  be  a  native  of  America,  or 
brought  thither  to  their  colony  of  Brafil  by  the  Portuguefe, 
from  India  and  the  coaft  of  Africa  ;  but,  however  that  may  be, 
in  the  beginning  they  made  the  moft,  as  they  ftill  do  the  beft, 
fugars  which  come  to  market  in  this  part  of  the  world.  The 
juice  within  the  fugar  cane  is  the  moft  lively,  excellent,  and 
the  leaft  cloying  fweet  in  nature,  which,  fucked  raw,  has 
proved  extremely  nutritive  and  wholelome.  From  the  molaftes 
rum  is  diftiiled,  and  from  the  fcumniings  of  the  fugar  a  meaner 
fpirit  is  procured.  The  tops  of  the  canes,  and  the  leaves 
which  grow  upon  the  joints,  make  very  good  provender  for 
their  cattle,  and  the  refufe  of  the  cane,  alter  grinding,  fervcs 
for  fire,  fo  that  no  part  of  this  excellent  plant  is  without  its 
ufe. 

They  compute  that,  when  things  are  well  managed,  the  rum 
and  molaffes  pay  the  charges  of  the  plantation,  and  the  fugars 
are  clear  gain.     However,  a   man    cannot  begin  a  fugar  plania- 


OT  THE  WEST. INDIA  ISLANDS.  231 

tion  of  any  confequence,  not  to  mention  the  purchafc  of  the 
land,  which  is  very  high,  under  a  capital  of  at  leaft  five 
thoufand  pounds* 

The  negroes  in  the  plantations  are  fubfifted  at  a  very  eafy 
rate ;  this  is  generally  by  allotting  to  each  family  of  them  a  fmall 
portion  of  land,  and  allowing  them  two  days  in .  the  week, 
Saturday  and  Sunday,  to  cultivate  it  j  fome  are  fubfifted  in 
this  manner,  but  others  find  their  negroes  a  certain  portion  of 
Guinea  or  Indian  corn^  and  to  fome  a  fait  herring,  or  a  fmall 
portion  of  bacon  or  fait  pork,  a  day.  All  the  reft  of  the  charge 
confifts  in  a  cap,  a  fhirt,  a  pair  of  breeches,  and  a  blanket,  and 
the  profit  of  their  labour  yields  ten  or  twelve  pounds  annually. 
The  price  of  men  negroes,  upon  their  fiirft  arrival,  is  from 
thirty  to  fifty  pounds,  women  and  grown  boys  lefs  :  but  fuch 
negro  families  as  are  acquainted  with  the  bufinefs  of  the  iflands 
generally  bring  above  forty  pounds  upon  an  average  one  with, 
another ;  and  there  are  inftances  of  a  fingle  negro  man,  expert 
in  the  bufinefs,  bringing  one  hundred  and  fifty  guineas  ;  and 
the  wealth  of  a  planter  is  generally  computed  from  the  number 
of  flaves  he  poffeffes. 


(      232       ) 


BRITISH  WEST-INDIES. 


— <-«-<<-f»  -^  ♦!>>•>->•• 


J  A  M  A  I  C  A. 


X  HIS  ifland,  the  largeft  of  the  Antilles,  and  the  moft  valua-* 
ble,  lies  between  17°  and  :g^  north  latitude,  and  between  -jS^ 
and  ■y^^  weft  longitude,  is  near  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  in 
length,  and  about  fixty  in  breadth  ;  it  approaches  in  its  figure  to 
an  oval.  The  windward  paflage  right  before  it  hath  the  ifland 
of  Cuba  on  the  weft,  and  Hilpaniola  on  the  eaft,  and  is  about 
twenty  leagues  in  breadth. 

This  ifiand  was  difcoverd  by  Admiral  Chriftopher  Columbus 
in  his  fecond  voyage,  who  landed  upon  it  May  5,  1494,  and  was 
io  much  charmed  with  it,  as  always  to  prefer  it  to  the  reft  of 
the  ifiands  ;  in  corrl'equence  of  which,  his  fon  chofe  it  for  his 
dukedom.  It  was  fettled  by  Juan  d'Efquivel,  A.  D.  1509,  who 
built  the  town,  which,  from  the  place  of  his  birth,  he  called 
Seville,  and  eleven  leagues  farther  to  the  eaft  ftood  Melilla. 
Orifton  was  on  the  fouth  fide  of  the  ifland,  feated  on  what  is  now 
called  the  Blue  Fields  river.  All  thefe  are  gone  to  decay,  but 
St.  Jago,  now  Spanifh-Town,  is  ftill  the  capital.  The  Spaniards 
held  this  country  one  hundred  and  fixty  years,  and  in  their  time 
the  principal  commodity  was  cacoa  ;  they  had  an  immenfe  ftock 
of  horfes,  afTes,  and  mules,  and  prodigious  quantities  of  cattle. 
The  Englifh  landed  here  under  Penn  and  Venables,  May  11, 
1654,  and  quickly  reduced  the  ifland.  Cacoa  was  alfo  their 
principal  commodity  till  the  old  trees  decayed,  and  the  new  ones 
did  not  thrive  ;  and  then  the  planters  from  Barbadoes  introduce 
ed  fugar  canes,  which  hath  been  the  great  ftaple  ever  fince. 


OF   JAMAICA,  233 

The  profpeft  of  this  iiland  from  the  fea,  by  reafon  of  its  con- 
fhant  verdure,  and  many  fair  and  fafe  bays,  is  wonderfully  plea- 
fanti  The  coait,  and  for  feme  miles  within  the  land,  is  low  ; 
but  removing  farther,  it  rifes,  and  becomes  hilly.  The  whole 
ifland  is  divided  by  a  ridge  of  mountains  running  eaft  and  weft, 
fome  rifing  to  a  great  height ;  and  thefe  are  compofed  of  rock, 
and  a  very  hard  clay,  through  which,  however,  the  rains  that 
fall  inceffantly  upon  them  have  worn  long  and  deep  cavities, 
which  they  call  gullies.  Thefe  mountains,  however,  are  far 
from  being  unpleaiant,  as  they  are  crowned  even  to  their  fum- 
mits  by  a  variety  of  fine  trees.  There  are  alfo  about  a  hundred 
rivers  that  iffue  from  them  on  both  fides  ;  and  though  none  of 
them  are  navigable  for  any  thing  but  canoes,  are  both  pleafing 
and  profitable  in  many  other  refpefts.  The  climate,  like  tirat  of 
all  countries  between  the  tropics,  is  very  warm  towards  the  fea, 
and  in  marlhy  places  unhealthy  ;  but  in  more  elevated  fituations 
cooler,  and  where  people  live  temperately,  to  the  full  as  whole- 
fome  as  any  part  of  the  Weft-Indies.  The  rains  fall  heavy  for 
about  a  fortnight  in  the  months  of  May  and  Oftober  ;  and  as 
they  are  the  caufe  of  fertility,  are  ftiled  feafons.  Thunder  is 
pretty  frequent,  and  fometimes  flrowers  of  hail ;  but  ice  or 
fnow,  except  on  the  tops  of  mountains,  are  never  fcen,  but  on 
them,  and  at  no  very  great  height,  the  air  is  exceedingly  cold. 

The  moft  eaftern  parts  of  this  ridge  are  famous  under  the 
name  of  the  Blue  Mountains.  This  great  chain  of  ruffaed 
rocks  defends  the  fouth  fide  of  the  ifiand  from  thofe  boifterous 
north-weft  winds,  which  might  be  fatal  to  their  produce.  Their 
ftreams,  though  fmall,  fupply  the  inhabitants  with  good  water 
which  is  a  great  blefling,  as  their  wells  are  generally  brackifa. 
The  Spaniards  were  perfuaded  that  thefe  hills  abounded  with 
metals;  but  we  do  not  find  that  they  wrought  anv  mines,  or  if 
they  did,  it  was  only  copper,  of  which  they  faid  the  bells  in 
the  church  of  St,  Jago  were  made.  They  have  feveral  hot 
fprings,  which  have  done  great  cures.  The  climate  v/as  cer- 
tainly more  temperate  before  the  great  earthquake,  and  the  iiland 
was  fuppofed  to  be  out  of  the  reach  of  hurricanes,  which  fince 
then  it  hath  feverely  felt.  The  heat,  however,  is  very  much 
tempered  by  land  and  fea  breezes,  and  it  is  afterted,  that  the 
hotteft  time  of  the  day  is  about  eight  in  the  morning.  In  the 
night,  the  wind  blows  from  the  laud  on  all  fides,  fo  that  no 
Ihips  can  then  enter  their  ports. 

In  an  ifland  fo  large  as  this,  which  contains  above  five  mil- 
lions of  acres,  it  may  be  very  reafonably  conceived  that  there 
are  great  variety  of  foils.     Some  of  thefe  are   deep,   bhck,  and 

H   h 


231  GEiV^RAL  DESCRIPTION 

rich,  and  mixed  with  a  kind  of  potter's  earth,  others  flialtoW 
and  fandy,  and  feme  of  a  middle  nature.  There  arc  many  fa- 
vannahs,  or  wide  plains,  without  ftones,  in  which  the  native 
Indians  had  luxuriant  crops  of  maize,  which  the  Spaniard* 
turned  into  meadows,  and  kept  in  them  prodigious  herds  of 
cattle.  Some  of  thefe  favannahs  are  to  be  met  with  even  amongft 
the  mountains.  All  thefe  different  foils  may  be  juftly  pro- 
nounced fertile,  as  they  would  certainly  be  found,  if  tolerably 
cultivated,  and  applied  to  proper  purpofes.  A  fufficient  proof 
of  this  will  arife  from  a  very  curfory  ixvlew  of  the  natural  and 
artificial  produce  of  this  fpacious  country. 

It  abounds  in  maize,  pulfe,  vegetables  of  all  kinds,  meadows 
of  fine  grafs,  a  variety  of  beautiful  flowers,  and  as  great  a 
variety  of  oranges,  lemons,  citrons,  and  other  rich  fruits. 
Ufeful  animals  there  are  of  all  forts,  horfes,  affes,  mules,  black 
cattle  of  a  large  fize,  and  fheep,  the  flefh  of  which  is  well 
tailed,  though  their  wool  is  hairy  and  bad.  Here  are  alfo  goats 
and  hogs  in  great  plenty,  fea  and  river  fifh,  wild,  tame,  and  wa- 
ter fowl.  Amongft  other  commodities  of  great  value,  they  have 
the  fugar  cane,  cacoa,  indigo,  pimento,  cotton,  ginger,  and 
coffee ;  trees  for  timber  and  other  ufes,  fuch  as  mahogany,  man- 
chineel,  white  wood,  which  no  worm  will  touch,  cedar,  olives, 
and  many  more.  Befides  thefe,  they  have  fuftic,  red  wood,  and 
various  other  materials  for  dying.  To  thefe  we  may  add  a  multi- 
tude of  valuable  drugs,  fuch  as  guaiacum,  china  farfaparilla, 
caffia,  tamarinds,  Vanellas,  and  the  prickle  pear  or  opuntia, 
which  produces  the  cochineal,  with  no  inconfiderable  number 
of  odoriferous  gums.  Near  the  coaft  they  have  fait  ponds,  with 
which  they  fupply  their  own  confumption,  and  might  make  any 
quantity  they   pleafed. 

As  this  ifland  abounds  with  rich  commodities,  it  is  happy 
likewife  in  having  a  number  of  fine  and  fafe  ports.  Point  Mo- 
rant,  the  eaftern  extremity  of  the  ifland,  hath  a  fair  and  com- 
modious bay.  Paffing  on  to  the  fouth  there  is  Port-Royal  ;  on 
a  neck  of  land  which  forms  one  fide  of  it,  there  Hood  once  the 
faireft  town  in  this  ifland  ;  and  the  harbour  is  as  fine  a  one  as 
can  be  wifhed,  capable  of  holding  a  thoufand  large  veffels,  and 
ftill  the  ftation  of  the  Englifla  fquadron.  Old  harbour  is  alfo  a 
convenient  port,  fo  is  Maccary  bay  ;  and  there  are  at  leall  twelve 
more  between  this  and  the  weftern  extremity,  which  is  point 
Negrillo,  where  fhips  of  war  lie  when  there  is  a  war  with 
Spain.  On  the  north  fide  there  is  Orange  bay,  Cold  harbour, 
Rio  Novo,   Montego  bay,   Port   Antonio,  one  of  the    fineft   in 


OF    JAMAICA,  235 

the.  ifland,  and  feveral  others.  The  north-weft  winds,  which 
fometimes  blow  furioufly  on  this  coaft,  render  the  country  on 
that  fide  lefs  fit  for  canes,  but  pimento  thrives  wonderfully  ; 
and  certainly  many  other  ftaples  might  be  raifed  in  fmali  planta- 
tions, which  are  frequent  in  Barbadoes,  and  might  be  very  ad- 
vantageous here  in  many  refpefts. 

The  town  of  Port-Royal  ftood  on  a  point  of  land  running  far 
out  into  the  fea,  narrow,  fandy,  and  incapable  of  producing 
any  thing ;  yet  the  excellence  of  the  port,  the  convenience  of 
having  fhips  of  feven  hundred  tons  coming  clofe  up  to  their 
wharfs,  and  other  advantages,  gradually  attra£led  inhabitants  in 
fuch  a  manner,  that  though  many  of  their  habitations  were  built 
on  piles,  there  were  near  two  thoufand  houfes  in  the  town  in 
its  moft  flouriftiing  ftate,  and  which  let  at  high  rents.  The 
earthquake  by  which  it  was  overthrown,  happened  on  the  ■ytli 
of  June,  1692,  and  numbers  of  people  perifhed  in  it.  This 
earthquake  was  followed  by  an  epidemic  difeafe,  of  which  up- 
wards of  three  thoufand  di^d ;  yet  the  place  was  rebuilt,  but 
the  greateft  part  was  reduced  to  afhes  by  a  fire  that  happened  on 
the  9th  of  January,  1 703,  and  then  the  inhabitants  removed 
moftly  to  Kingfton.  It  was,  however,  rebuilt  for  the  third 
time,  and  was  raifing  towards  its  former  grandeur,  when  it  was 
overwhelmed  by  the  fea,  Auguft  28,  1722J  there  is,  notwith- 
ftanding,  a  fmall  town  there  at  this  day.  Hurricanes  fi nee  that 
time  have  often  happened,  and  occafioned  terrible  devaftation  ; 
one  in  particular,  in  1780,  which  almoll  overwhelmed  the  little 
fea  port  town  of  Savannah  la  Mar. 

The  ifland  is  divided  into  three  counties,  Middlefex,  Surry, 
and  Cornwall,  containing  twenty  parifhes,  over  each  of  wh^h 
prefideS  a  magiftrate,  ftyled  a  cuftos;  but  thefe  parifhes  in  pomt 
of  fize  are  a  kind  of  hundreds.  "  The  whole  contains  thiity-fix 
towns  and  villages,  eighteen  churches  and  chapels,  and  about 
twenty  three  thoufand  white  inhabitants. 

The  adminiftration  of  public  affairs  is  by  a  governor  and 
council  of  royal  appointment,  and  the  reprefentatives  of  the 
people  in  the  lower  Houfe  of  AfTembly.  They  meet  at  Spanifh- 
town,  and  things  are  condufted  with  great  order  and  dignity. 
The  lieutenant-governor  and  commander  in  chief  has  five  thou- 
fand pounds  currency,  or  tljree  thoufand  live  hundred  and 
feventy-one  pounds  eight  (hillings  and  fix-pence  three  faitliings 
fterling,  befides  which,  he  has  a  houfe  in  Spanifli-town,  a  pen 
or  a  farm  adjoining,  and  a  polink  or  mountain  for  proviftons,  a 
fecretary,  an  under  fecretary,  and  a  domeflic  chaplain,  and 
other  feeSj   which  make   his  income  at  leafl  eight  thoufand  five 

H  h     2 


236  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

hundred  and  fifty  pounds  currency,  or  fix  thoufand  one  hundred 
pounds  fterling. 

The  honourable  the  council  confifts  of  a  prefident  and  ten 
members,  with  a  clerk,  at  two  hundred  and  feventy  pounds, 
chaplain  one  hundred  pounds,  ufher  of  the  black  rod  and  mef^ 
fenger,   two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 

The  honourable  the  affenribly  confifts  of  forty- three  members, 
one  of  whom  is  chofen  Ipeaker.  To  this  ailembly  belongs  a 
clerk,  with  one  thoufand  pounds  falary ;  a  chaplain,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds ;  mefTcnger,  fe\'en  hundred  pounds ; 
deputy,  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds  ;  and  printer,  two  hun- 
dred pounds. 

The  number  of  members  returned  by  each  parifh  and  county 
are,  for  Middlefex  feventeen,  viz.  St.  Catharine  three,  St.  Do- 
lothy  two,  St,  John  two,  St.  Thomas  in  the  Vale  two,  Claren^ 
don  two,  Vere  two,  St.  Mary  two,  St.  Ann  two:  for  Surry 
fixteen,  viz.  Kingfton  three,  Port-Royal  three,  St.  Andrew  two, 
St.  David  two,  St.  Thomas  in  the  Eaft  two,  Portland  two,  St. 
George  two  :  for  Cornwall  ten,  viz.  St.  Elizabeth  two,  Weft- 
morland  two,   Hanover  two,  St.  James  two,  Trelawney  two. 

The  high  court  of  chancery  confifts  of  the  chancellor  (go- 
vernor for  the  time  being)  twenty-five  mafters  in  ordinary,  and 
twenty  mafters  extraordinary,  a  regifter,  and  clerk  of  the  pa- 
tents, ferjeant  at  arms,  and  mace-bearer.  The  court  of  vice 
admiralty  has  a  fole  judge,  judge  furrogate,  and  commiflary, 
king's  advocate,  principal  regifter,  marfhal,  and  a  deputy-mar- 
fhal.  The  court  of  ordinary  confifts  of  the  ordinary  (governor 
for  the  time  being)  and  a  clerk.  The  fupreme  court  of  judi- 
cature has  a  chief  juftice  and  fixteen  aftiftant  judges,  attorney- 
general,  clerk  of  the  courts,  clerk  of  the  crown,  lolicitor  of 
the  crown,  thirty-three  commifTioners  for  taking  affidavits,  a 
provoft-marfhal-genera),  and  eight  deputies,  eighteen  barrifters, 
befides  the  attorney-general  and  advocate-general,  and  upv.'ards 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  pra£lifing  attornies  at  law. 

The  trade  of  this  ifland  will  beft  appear  by  the  quantity  of 
fliipping,  and  the  number  of  feamen  to  which  it  gives  employ- 
ment, and  the  nature  and  quantity  of  its  exports.  The  follow- 
ing is  an  account  from  the  books  of  the  infpc£lor-general  of 
Great-Britain,  of  the  number  of  veffels  of  all  kinds  there  re- 
giftered,  tonnage,  and  number  of  men,  which  cleared  from  the 
levera]  ports  of  entry  in  Jamaica,  in  the  year  178^,  exclufive 
of  coafling  iloops,    wherries,    &c. 


OF  JAMAICA, 


«37 


Number 

of  Veffels. 

Tonnage. 

Men. 

For 

Great-Britain     .     .      242 

63471 

7748 

Ireland      ...             10 

1231 

9» 

American  States     .      133 

13041 

893 

Br.  Amer.  Colonies       66 

6*33 

449 

Foreign  Weft-Indies      22 

1903 

155 

Africa     ....          1 

109 

8 

Total         474 


85888 


9344 


It  muft,  however,  be  obferved,  that  as  many  of  the  veffels 
clearing  for  America  and  the  foreign  Weft-Indies  make  two 
or  more  voyages  in  the  year,  it  is  ufual,  in  computing  the  real 
number  of  thofe  veflels,  their  tonnage  and  men,  to  deduft  one 
third  from  the  official  numbers.  With  this  correftion  the 
total  to  all  parts  is  four  hundred  veffels,  containing  feventy- 
cight  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  lixty-two  tons,  navigated  by 
eight  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  forty-five  men. 

The  exports  for  the  fame  year  are  given  on  the  fame  autho- 
rity, as  follows : 


£38 


GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 


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OF  JAMAICA, 


239 


But  it  mufl  be  noted,  that  a  confiderable  part  of  the  cotton, 
indigo,  tobacco,  mahogany^  dye-woods,  and  mifcellaneous  arti- 
cles, included  in  the  preceding  account,  is  the  produce  of  the 
foreign  Weft- Indies  imported  into  Junaica,  partly  under  the 
free-port  law,  and  partly  in  fmall  Britifii  velTels  employed  ia  a 
contraband  traffic  with  the  Spanifh  American  territories,  pay- 
ment of  which  is  made  chiefly  in  Britifh  manufaftures  and 
negroes;  and  confiderable  quantities  of  bullion,  obtained  by 
the  fame  means,  are  annually  remitted  to  Great-Britain  of 
which  no  precife  accounts  can  be  proeureJ, 

The  General  Account  of  Imports   into   Jamaica   will   ftaild 
nearly  as  follows,  viz. 


IMPORTS  INTO  JAMAICA, 

£,         y.  d. 


From  Great-Britain'^ 

direft,  according  |  Britiih  manu- 
to  a  return  of  the  \   fattures 


Infpeftor    Gene- 
ral for  1  78 -J. 


Foreign   mer- 
chandife 


■75   3 


£. 


(/. 


■  686,657  2  3 


From  Ireland,  allowing  a  moiety  of  the  whole 
import  to  the  Britifh  Weft-Indies,  confifting 
of  manufaftures  and  falted  provifions  to  the 
amount  of  350,0001. 

From  Africa,  five  thoufand  three  hundred  and 
forty-five  negroes,*  at  40I.  fterling  each— - 
(this  is  wholly  a  Britifh  trade,  carried  on  in 
(hips  from  England)  .... 

From  the  Brililh  Colonies  in  America,  including 
about  twenty  thoufand  quintals  of  falted  cod 
from  Newfoundland  .... 

From  the  United  States,  Indian  corn,  wheat, 
flour,  rice,  lumber,  ftaves,  &c.  imported  in 
Britifh  fhips 

From  Madeira  and  Teneriffe,  in  Ihips  trading 
circuitcufly  from  Great-Britain,  five  hundred 
pipes  of  wine,  exclufive  of  wines  for  re-ex- 
portation, at  30I.  fterling  the  pipe 


■758,932   5  4 


175,000  o  0 


213,800  o  o 


3O5COO   o   o 


90,000  o  o 


15,000  o  o 


1.282,732  5  4 


*  Being  an  average  of  the  whole  number  imported  and  retained  ia  the   idm* 
foi  ten  years,  1778  to  1787,  as  returned  by  the  Infpeaor-Gcneral. 


240 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


£.  s.   c. 

Brought  over    1,2825-731  5   ^. 
From  the  foreign  Weft-Indies,  under  the  free- 
port  law,   &c,  calculated  on  an  average  of 
three  years*         .....  150,000  o  o 


£•15432,732   5   4 


From  returns  of  the  Infpeflor- General.    The  following  are  the  particular* 


for  the  year  1787. 

Cotton  wool 

- 

i94,ocX)  lbs. 

Cacoa         _         -         .         - 

- 

64,750  lbs. 

*                        Cattle,  viz. 

Affes 

-     43 

'                                 Horfes         .         -         - 

233 

r                                Mules         -         -          - 

585 

Oxen         -         - 

243 

Sheep        -        -          - 

98 

-  1,202  No. 

Dying  woods 

- 

5,077  Toni. 

Gum  guaiacum 

- 

79  Barrels. 

Hides         -         .         *          - 

- 

4.537  No. 

Indigo         -         -         -         . 

- 

4,663  lbs. 

Mahogany         -         -         - 

- 

9,993  Planks. 

Tortoife  fhell 

- 

655  lbs. 

Dollars        -        -        - 

- 

53,850  No. 

t)F   jfAMAICA. 


241 


A  REtliRN  of  the  number  of  Sugar  Plantations  in  the 
ifland  of  JAMAICA,  and  the  Negro  Slaves  thereon,  on 
the  28th  of  March,   1789,  diftinguifiiing  the  feveral  Paiifhes, 


County  of  Middlefex, 


Parifh  of  St.  Mary  . 
Do,  St.  Anne  .  .  . 
Do.  St.  John  .  . 
Do.  St.  Dorothy  .  . 
Do.  ScTho.  in  the  Vale 
"Do.  Claretidon  .  * 
Do.  Vere  .... 
Do.  St.  Catharine     . 


Sugar 
Plant. 


63 
30 

21 
12 

33 
56 
26 

3 


Negroes 
thereon 


12,06,5 
4,908 

3'7i3 
1,776 

5.327 

10,150 

5>279 

408 


Total  in  the  County  of  Middlefex   244 
County  of  Surry. 


Parin^  of  St.  Andrew 
Do.  St.  George  . 
Do.  Portland  .  .  . 
Do.  Port-Royal  .  . 
Do.  St.  David  .  . 
Do.  St.  Tho.  in  the  Eaft 
Do.  Kingfton     .     .    . 


24 

3.540 

14 

2,795 

23 

2,968 

3 

358 

12 

l,8qo 

«3 

15,786 

Total  in  the  County  of  Surry    1 


59 


County  of  Cornwall. 


Panlh  of  Trclawney 
Do.  St.  James    .     .     , 
Do.  Hanover    j,     .    , 
Do.  Wellmorcland    , 
Do.  St.  Elizabeth  .    , 


83 

15,692 

67 

12,482 

b9 

13=33" 

b2 

11,219 

2b 

5,112 

Total  in  the  County  of  Cornwall    007 


-"•7,337 


57.S35 


Total  in  Jamaica    710 


128,798 


li 


(      242       ) 


BARBADOES. 


B. 


'ARBADOES,  the  moft  eaftelly  of  all  the   Caribbee  iflanda, 
fubjcft  to  Great-Britain,  and,  according  to   the  beft  geographers, 
lying  between   59°  50'  and  62°^  2'    of  weft  longitude,   and    be- 
tween  la**  56'  and  13''  16'  of  north  latitude.     Its  extent   is  not 
certainly  known  ;  the  moft  general  opinion  is,  that  it  is  twenty- 
five  miles  from  north  to  fouth,  and  fifteen  from  eaft  to  weft  ;  but 
thefe  menfurations  are  fubjeft  to  fo  many  difficulties   and  uncer- 
tainties, that  it  wil'  perhaps  convey  a  more  adequate  idea  of  this 
ifland  to  tell  the  reader,  that  in  reality  it  does  not  contain  above 
one  hundred  and  fcven  thoufand  acres.     The  climate  is  hot  but 
not  unwholefome,  the  heat  being  qualified  by    fea   breezes  ;  and 
a  temperate  regimen  renders  this  ifland  as  fafe   to  live  in  as  any 
climate  Ibuth  of  Great-Britain  ;  and,  according  to  the  opinion  of 
many,  as  even  Great-Britain  itfelf.     This   ifland   has   on  its  eaft 
fide  two  ftreams  that  are   called  rivers,  and  in  the  middle  is  faid 
to  have  a  bituminous  fpring,   which   fends  forth  a  liquor  like  tar, 
and  ierves  for  the   fame  ufes  as  pitch   or   lamp  oil.     The    ifland 
abounds    in    wells  of  good  water,  and   has  feveral  rrfervoirs  for 
rain  water.  .  Some  parts  of  the  foil  are    faid  to  be  hollowed  into 
caves,  fome  of  them  capable  of  containing  three  hundred  people, 
Thefe  are  imagined  to  have   been  the  lurking-places  of  runaway 
negroes,  but  may  as  probably  be  natural  excavations.     The  woods 
that  formerly  grew  upon  the  ifland  have  been  all  cut  down,  and 
the  ground  converted  into  fugar  plantations.     When  thofe  plan- 
tations were  firft  formed,  the    fbil   was   prodigioufly  fertile,  but 
has  fince  been  worn  out,   infomuch,  that  about  the  year    1730, 
tbe  planters  were   obliged   to  raife  cattle  for   the    fake   of  their 
dung,  by  whicli  means  the  profit  of  their  plantations  was  reduced 
to  lefs  than   a   tenth    of  its   ufual   value.      Notwithftanding    the 
fmallnefs  of  Barbadoes,  its  foil  is  different,  being  in  fome  places 
fandy  and  light,  and  others  rich,  and   in   others  fpungy,  but  all 
of  it   is    cultivated    according   to   its  proper  nature,  fo   that  the 
ifland  prcfents  to  the  eye  the  moft  beautiful  appearance  that   can 


0  F   BARBADOES,  243 

be  imagined.  Oranges  and  lemons  grow  in  Barbadoes  in  great 
plenty,  and  in  their  utmoft  perfeftion.  The  lemon  juice  here 
has  a  peculiar  fragrancy.  The  citrons  of  Barbadoes  afford  the 
beft  drams  and  fweetmeats  of  any  in  the  world,  the  Barbadoes 
ladies  excelling  in  the  art  of  preferving  the  rind  of  the  citron 
fruit.  The  juice  of  the  limes,  or  dwarf  lemons,  is  the  moft 
agreeable  fouring  we  know,  and  great  quantities  of  it  have  of 
late  been  imported  into  Britain  and  Ireland.  The  pine  apple  is 
alfo  a  native  of  Barbadoes,  and  grows  there  to  much  greater  per- 
feftion  than  it  can  be  made  to  do  in  Europe  by  any  artificial 
means.  A  vaft  number  of  different  trees  peculiar  to  the  climate 
are  alfo  found  to  flourifh  in  Barbadoes  in  great  perfeftion,  fuch 
as  the  aloe,  mangrove,  calabafh,  cedar,  cotton,  mallic,  &c.  Here 
likewife  are  produced  feme  fenfitive  plants,  with  a  good  deal  of 
garden  ftuff,  which  is  common  in  other  places.  In  fhort,  a  na- 
tive of  the  fineffc,  the  richeft,  and  mofl  diverfified  country  in 
Europe,  can  hardly  form  an  idea  of  the  variety  of  delicious, 
and  at  the  fame  time  nutritive  vegetable  produftions  with  which 
the  ifland  abounds. 

When  Barbadoes  was  firft  difcovered  by  the  Englifh,  few  or 
no  quadrupeds  were  found  upon  it,  except  hogs,  whicli  had 
been  left  there  by  the  Portuguefe.  For  convenience  of  carriage 
to  the  fea  fide,  fome  of  the  planters  at  firfl  procured  camels, 
which  undoubtedly  would  in  all  refpefts  have  been  preferable  ta 
horfes  for  their  i'ugar  and  other  works ;  but  the  nature  of  the 
climate  difagreeing  with  that  animal,  it  was  found  impoffible  to 
preferve  the  breed.  They  then  applied  for  horfes  to  Old  and 
New-England  ;  from  the  former  they  had  thofe  that  were  fit  for 
fhow  and  draught  ;  from  the  latter  thofe  that  were  proper  for 
mounting  their  militia,  and  for  the  faddle.  They  had  likewife 
fome  of  an  inferior  breed  from  Curaffao,  and  other  fettlements. 
They  are  reported  to  have  had  their  firft  breed  of  black  cattle 
from  Sonavifta,  and  the  ifle  of  May  ;  they  now  breed  upon  the 
ifland,  and  often  do  the  work  of  horfes.  Their  affes  are  very 
ferviceable  in  carrying  burdens  to  and  from  the  plantations. 
The  hogs  of  Barbadoes  are  finer  eating  than  thofe  of  Britain,  but 
the  few  fheep  they  have  are  not  near  fo  good.  They  likewife 
have  goats,  which,  when  young,  are  excellent  food.  Racoons 
and  monkeys  are  alfo  found  here  in  great  abundance.  A  variety 
of  birds  are  produced  on  Barbadoes,  of  which  the  humming  bird 
is  the  mofl  remarkable.  Wild  fowl  do  not  ofien  frequent  this 
iilaiid,  but  fometimes  teal   are  found  near  thsir  ponds.     A  bird 

1  i  2 


244  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

which  they  call  the  man  of  war,  is  faid  to  meet  fhips  at  Jwenty 
leagues  from  land,  and  their  return  is,  to  the  inhabitants^  a  furc 
fign  uf  the  arrival  of  ihefe  (hips.  When  the  wind  blows  from 
the  fouth  and  fouth-weft,  they  have  flocks  of  curlews,  plovers, 
fnipcs,  wild  pigeons,  and  wild  ducks.  The  wild  pigeons  are 
very  fat  and  plentiful  at  fuch  fcafons,  and  rather  larger  than  thofe 
of  England,  The  tame  pigeons,  pullets,  ducks,  and  poultry  of 
all  kinds,  that  are.  bred  at  Barbadoes,  have  alio  a  Hne  flavour, 
and  are  accounted  more  delicious  than  thofe  of  Europe.  Their 
rabbits  are  Icarce  ;  they  have  no  hares,  and  if  they  have  deer  of 
any  kind,  they  are  kept  as  curiofities.  The  infefts  of  Barbadoes 
are  not  venomous,  nor  do  either  their  fnakes  or  their  fcorpions 
ever  fling.  The  mufl:cttoes  are  troublefome,  and  bite,  but  arq 
more  tolerable  in  Barbadoes  than  on  the  continent.  Various 
ether  infcfts  are  found  on  the  ifland,  fome  of  which  are  trou- 
blefome, but  in  no  greater  degree  than  thofe  that  are  produced 
by  every  warm  fummer  in  England,  Barbadoes  is  well  fupplied 
with  fifh,  and  fome  caught  in  the  fea  lurrounding  it  are  almoft 
peculiar  to  itfelf,  fuch  as  the  parrot  fifli,  fnappers,  grey  cavallos, 
terbums,  and  coney  filh.  The  mullets,  lobfters,  and  crabs  caught 
here  are  excellent  ;  and  the  green  turtle  is,  perhaps,  the  greateft 
delicacy  that  ancient  or  modern  luxury  can  boaft  of,  At  Bar- 
badoes this  delicious  fliell  fifh  feldom  fells  for  lefs  than  a  fliilling 
a  pound,  and  often  for  more.  There  is  found  in  this  ifland  a 
kind  of  land  crab,  which  eats  herbs  wherever  it  can  find  them, 
and  flriekers  itfelf  in  houfcs  and  hollow  trees,  Accordiiig  to 
report,  they  are  a  fhell  fifh  of  padage,  for  in  March  they  travel 
to  the  fea  'm  great  numbers.  , 

The  inhabitants  may  be  reduced  to  thiee  clafles,  viz.  the 
mafters,  the  white  lervants,  and  the  blacks.  The  former  are  ei- 
ther-Englifli,  Scots,  or  Irifii  ;  but  the  great  encouragement  given 
by  the  government  to  the  peopling  of  this  and  other  Weft-Indian 
iflands,  induced  fome  Dutch,  French,  Portuguefe,  and  Jews, 
to  fettle  among  them  ;  by  which,  after  a  certain  time,  they  ac- 
quire the  rights  of  naturalization  in  Great-Britain.  The  white 
fervants,  whether  by  covenant  or  purcbyfe,  lead  more  eafy  lives 
than  the  day-l;«bourers  in  England,  and  when  they  come  to  be 
ovcrfecrs,  their  wages  and  other  allowances  are  confiderable. 
1  he  manners  of  the  white  inhabitants  in  general  are  tlie  fame  as 
in  moil  polite  towns  and  countries  in  Europe.  The  Capital  of 
the  ifland  is  Eiidgc-towu, 


OF   BARB  ADO  ES.  245 

When  the  Englifh,  fpme  time  after  the  year  1625,  firft  land- 
ed here,  they  found  it  the  moft  deflitute  place  they  had 
hitherto  vifited.  It  Had  not  the  leali  appearance  of  ever  hav- 
ing been  peopled  even  by  favages,  I'here  was  no  kind  of 
beads  of  pafture  or  of  prey,  no  fruit,  no  herb,  no  root  fit  for 
fupporting  the  life  of  man.  Yet,  as  the  climate  was  fo  good, 
and  the  foil  appeared  fertile,  fome  gentlemen  of  Imall  fortune 
in  England  refolved  to  become  adventurers  thither.  The  trees 
were  fo  large,  and  of  a  wood  fo  hard  and  flubborh,  that  it  was 
with  great  difficulty  they  could  clear  as  much  ground  as  was 
necefi'ary  for  their  fubfiftence.  By  unremitting  perfeverance, 
however,  they  brought  it  to  yield  them  a  tolerable  fupport  ; 
and  they  found  that  cotton  and  indigo  agreed  well  with  the  foil, 
and  that  tobacco,  which  was  beginning  to  come  into  repute  in 
England,  anfwered  tolerably.  Thefe  profpefts,  together  with 
the  florm  between  king  and  parliament,  which  was  beginning 
to  break  out  in  England,  induced  many  new  adventurers  to 
tranfport  themfelves  into  this  ifland.  And  what  is  extremely 
remarkable,  fo  gieat  was  the  increafe  of  people  in  Barbadoes, 
twenty-five  years  after  its  firfh  fettlement,  that  in  165O,  it  con- 
tained more  than  fifty  thoufand  whites,  and  a  much  greater 
number  of  negro  and  Indian  flaves.  The  latter  they  acquired 
by  means  not  at  all  to  their  honour  ;  for  they  feized  upon  all 
thofe  unhappy  n^en,  without  any  pretence,  in  the  neighbour- 
ing iflands,  and  carried  them  into  flavery ;  a  praftice  which 
has  rendered  the  Caribbee  Indians  irreconcileable  to  us  ever 
lince.  They  had  begun  a  little  before  this  to  cultivate  fugar, 
which  foon  rendered  them  extremely  wealthy.  The  number 
of  flaves  therefore  was  ftill  augmented ;  and  in  1676  it  is  fup- 
pofed  that  their  number  amounted  to  one  hundred  thoufand, 
which,  together  with  fifty  thoufand  whites,  make  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thouland  on  tiiis  fmall  fpot ;  a  degree  of  popula'tion 
unknown  in  Holland,  in  China,  or  any  other  part  of  the  world 
rp^oll  renowned  for  numbers.  At  the  above  period,  Barbadoes 
employed  four  hundred  fail  of  fhips,  one  with  another,  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  tons,  in  their  trade.  Their  annual  exports 
in  fugar,  indigo,  ginger,  cotton,  and  citron-water,  were  above 
thirty-five  thouland  pounds,  and  their  circulating  cafh  at  home 
was  two  hundred  thoufand  pounds.  Such  was  the  increafe  of 
population,  trade,  and  wealth,  in  the  courfe  of  fifty  years. 
But  fince  that  time  this  ifland  has  been  much  on  the  decline, 
which  is  to  be  attributed  partly  to  the  growth  of  the  Frencli 
fugar  colonies,  and  partly  to  our  own  eftabliflimenis  in  the 
fieighboLuing  ifles.     Their  numbers  at   prefent   are  faid  to  be 


«4S  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

twenty  thoufand  whites,  and  one  hundred  thoufand  flav«s. 
Their  commerce  confifls  of  the  fame  articles  as  formerly,  though 
they  deal  in  them  to  lefs  extent. 

Barbadoes  is  divided  into  five  diftrifts  and  eleven  parifhes, 
and  contains  four  towns,  viz.  Bridge-town,  Oftins,  or  Charles- 
town,  St.  James's,  formerly  called  the  Hole,  and  Sperght's- 
town.  Bridge-town,  the  capital,  before  it  was  deftroyed  by 
the  fires  of  1766,  confifted  of  about  fifteen  hundred  houfes 
which  were  nrollly  built  of  brick  ;  and  it  is  ftill  the  feat  of 
government,  and  may  be  called  the  chief  refidence  of  the 
governor,  who  is  provided  with  a  country  villa  called  Pilgrims, 
fituated  within  a  mile  of  it ;  his  falary  was  raifed  by  Queen 
Anne  from  twelve  hundred  to  two  thoufand  per  ann.  the 
•whole  of  which  is  paid  out  of  the  exchequer,  and  charged  to 
the  account  of  the  four  and  a  half  per  cent  duty.  The  form 
of  the  government  of  this  ifland  fo  very  nearly  refembles  that 
of  Jamaica,  which  has  already  been  defcribed,  that  it  is  unne- 
ceffary  to  enter  into  detail,  except  to  obferve  that  the  council 
is  compofed  of  twelve  members,  and  the  aflembly  of  twenty- 
two.  The  moft  important  variation  refpefts  the  court  of 
chancery,  which  in  Barbadoes  is  conflituted  of  the  governor 
and  council,  whereas  in  Jamaica  the  governor  is  fole  chancellor. 
On  the  other  hand,  in  Barbadoes,  the  governor  fits  in  council, 
even  when  the  latter  are  afting  in  a  legiflative  capacity  :  this 
in  Jamaica  would  be  confidered  improper  and  unconftitutional. 
It  may  alfo  be  obferved,  that  the  courts  of  grand  feflions,  com- 
mon pleas  and  exchequer  in  Barbadoes,  are  dillinft  from  each 
other,  and  not  as  in  Jamaica,  united  and  blended  in  one  lupremc 
court  of  judicature. 

We  fhall  clofe  our  account  of  Barbadoes  with  the  following 
authentic  document. 


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(     243     ) 


SAINT  CHRISTOPHER'S. 

X  HIS  iflind,  commonly  called  St.  Kitt's,  is  fituatcd  in  62* 
tveft.  longitude  and  17°  north  latitude,  about  fourteen  leagues 
from  Antigua;  is  twenty  miles  long  and  about  feven  broad; 
it  was  dilcovered  in  November,  1493?  by  Columbus,  and 
named  after  himfelf,  but  was  never  planted  or  poffcffed  by  the 
Spaniards  :  it  is  in  reality  the  oldefi  of  all  the  Britifh  fettlements 
in  the  Weft-Indies,  and  the  common  mother  both  of  the  French 
and  Englifh  fettlements  in  the  Caribbean  iflands.  It  was 
firft  fettled  by  a  Mr.  Warner  arid  fourteen  other  pcrfonS  in 
1623.  Mr.  Warner,  a  refpeftable  gentleman,  had  accompanied 
Capt.  North  in  a  voyage  to  Surinam,  where  he  had  become 
acquainted  with  a  Capt.  Painton,  a  very  experienced  feaman, 
who  fuggefted  to  him  the  advantages  of  a  fettlement  on  one 
of  the  Wcfh-India  iflands  deferted  by  the  Spaniards,  and  pointed 
out  this  as  eligible  for  fuch  an  undertaking.  Mr.  Warner 
returning  to  Europe  in  1620,  determined  to  carry  this 
projeft  into  execution.  He  accordingly  failed  wiih  the  above 
party  to  Virginia,  from  whence  he  took  his  paffage  to  St. 
Chriftopher's,  where  he  arrived  in  the  month  of  January,  1623, 
and  by  the  month  of  Septem'ber  following  had  raifed  a  good 
crop  of  tobacco,  which  they  propofed  to  make  their  ftaple 
commodity. 

Unfortunately,  their  plantations  were  deftroyed  the  latter 
fend  of  the  year  by  an  hurricance  ;  in  confequence  of  which 
calamity,  Mr.  Warner  returned  to  England,  and  obtained  the 
powerful  patronage  of  the  Earl  of  Carlifle,  who  caufed  a  fhip 
to  be  fitted  out  and  laden  with  all  kinds  of  neceflaries,  which 
arrived  on  the  18th  of  May  following  ;  and  thus  faved  a  fettle- 
ment which  had  otherwife  died  in  its  infancy.  Warxier  himfelf 
did  not,  however,  return  till  the  year  1625,  when  he  carried 
with  him  a  large  number  of  other  perfons.  About  this  time, 
and,  according  to  fome  writers,  on  the  fame  day  with  Warner, 
arrived  D'EIr.ambuc,  the  captain  of  a' French  privateer,  toge- 
ther with  about  thirty  hardy  veterans  belonging  to  her  ;  fhe 
had  been  much  damaged  in  an  engagement  with  a  Spanifli 
galleon  •,    they    were    received    kindly     by   the     Englifti,    and 


OF   ST.    CHRtSTOPHER'S.  249 

ir«5maincd  with  them  on  the  ifland,  from  whence,  by  their  united 
endeavours,  they  drove  the  original  inhabitants. 

After  this  exploit,  thcfe  two  leaders  returned  to  their  re- 
fpeftive  countries  to  folicit  fuccours,  and  bringing  with  them  the 
name  of  conquerors,  they  met  with  every  encouragement. 
Warner  was  knighted^  and,  by  the  influence  of  his  patron,  lent 
back  in  1626,  with  four  hundred  frefll  recruits,  amply  fur- 
nilhed  with  neccffaries  of  all  kinds.  D'Efnambuc  obtained  from 
Cardinal  Richelieu,  the  then  minifter  of  France,  the  eflabliili- 
rtient  of  a  feparate  company,  to  trade  with  this  and  fome  other 
iflands.  Subfcriptions,  however,  did  not  come  in  very  rapid,  and 
the  fhips  fent  out  by  the  new  company  were  fo  badly  provided, 
that  of  hOe  hundred  and  thirty-two  new  fettlers,  who  failed 
from  France  in,  162-7,  the  greater  part  perilhed  miferably  at 
fea  for  want  of  food.  The  Englilh  received  the  furvivors,  and, 
to  prevent  contefts  about  limits,  the  commanders  of  each  nation 
divided  the  idaud  as  equally  as  polTible  among  their  refpeftive 
followers.  The  illand  thus  continued  in  the  hands  of  the 
French  and  Englifh  until  the  peace  of  Utrecht,  when  it  was 
tinally  ceded  to  Great-Britain.  We  are  not,  however,  to  fup- 
pofe,  that  during  this  period  harmony  and  good-will  prevailed  ; 
on  the  contrary,  the  Englifh  were  three  times  driven  off  the 
ifland,  and  their  plantations  laid  Wafte :  nor  were  the  French 
much  lefs  fufferers.  Such  ard  the  confequences  of  thofe  curfod 
fyilems  of  maxims  of  government,  which  beget  a  fpirit  of  en- 
mity againfl  all  thofe  who  are  of  a  different  nation.  After  the 
peace  of  Uirecht,  the  French  polfeirions,  a  few  excepted,  were 
iold  for  the  benefit  of  the  Engl-ifli  government  ;  and  in  ^"j^^ 
eighty  thoufand  pounds  of  the  money  was  granted  as  a  niarriage 
portion  to  the  Princefs  Anne,  who  was  betrothed  to  the  Prince 
of  Orange.  In  i-ySi,  it  was  attacked  and  taken  by  the  Frenchj 
but  again  ceded  to  Britain  at  the   peace  of  it83.      ' 

About  one-half  of  this  illand  is  fuppoled  to  be  unfit  for  cul- 
tivation, the  interior  parts  confiding  of  many  high  and  bat  icn. 
motintains,  between  which  are  horrid  precipices  and  thick  woods. 
The  loftiell  mountain,  wliich  is  evidently  a  decayed  volcano, 
is  called  Mount  Mifery  ;  it  riles  three  thouland  feven  hundred 
and  eleven  feet  perpendicular  height  from  tlie  fea.  Nature  has, 
however,  made  a  rccompcnfe  for  the  fterililv  of  the  mountjins 
by  the  iertdity  of  the  pjains.  The  foil  is  a  dark  grey  loam, 
very  light  and  porous,  and  is  fuppofed  by  Mr,  Edwards*  to  be 
the  produ^^tiun  of  lubierrancous  hres  finely  incorporated  with  a 

*  Vide  Hidjiy  of  WePt-Indies,  vol.  i    p.  429. 

K  k 


250  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION,  &c. 

pure  loam  or  virgin  mould  ;  this  foil  is  peculiarly  favourable  td 
the  culture  of  fugar.  In  the  fouth-wefb  part  of  the  ifland  hot 
fulphureous  fprings  are  found  at  the  foot  of  fome  of  the  moun- 
tains :  the  air  is,  on  the  whole,  falubrious,  but  the  ifland  is 
fubjeft  to  hurricanes. 

St.  Chriftopher's  is  divided  into  nine  parifhes,  and  contains 
four  towns  and  hamlets,  viz.  BaflTeterre,  (the  capital)  Sandy- 
point,  Old  road,  and  Deep  bay  ;  of  thefe,  Baffeterre  and  Sandy 
point  are  ports  of  entry  eftablifhed  by  law.  The  fortifications 
on  this  ifland  are  Charles  fort  and  Brimftone  hill  near  Sandy 
point,  three  batteries  at  Baffeterre,  one  at  Fig-tree  bay,  another 
at  Palmeton  point,   and  fome  others  of  little  importance. 

St.  Chriftopher's  contributes  twelve  hundred  pounds  cur- 
rency per  annum  towards  the  fupport  of  the  governor-general^ 
befides  the  perquifites  of  his  office,  which  in  war  time  are  very 
confiderable  :  the  council  confifts  of  ten  members  ;  the  houfe 
of  affembly  of  twenty-four  reprefentatives,  of  whom  fifteen 
make  a  quorum.  The  qualification  for  a  reprefcntative  is  a 
freehold  of  forty  acres  of  land,  or  a  houfe  worth  forty  pounds 
per  annum  ;  for  an  eleftor,  a  freehold  of  ten  pounds  per  annum  i 
the  governor  is  chancellor  by  office,  and  fits  alone  on  the  bench. 
The  jurifdiftion  of  the  courts  of  king's  bench  and  common  pleas 
centers  in  one  fuperior  court,  wherein  jullice  is  adminiftered. 
by  a  chief  juflice  and  four  affiftant  judges,  the  former  appointed 
by  the  king,  the  latter  by  the  governor  in  the  king's  name  ; 
they  all  hold  their  offices  during  pleafure;  The  office  of  the 
chief  judge  is  worth  about  fix  hundred  pounds  per  annum  ; 
thofe  of  the  affiftant  judges  trifling.  The  prefent  number  of 
inhabitants  are  eftimated  at  four  thoufand  white  inhabitants, 
three  hundred  free  blacks  and  mulattoes,  and  about  twenty-fix 
thoufand  flaves. 

.  As  in  the  other  Britifli  iflands  in  the  neighbourhood,  all  the 
white  males  from  fixteen  to  fixty  arc  obliged  to  enhft  in  the 
militia  ;  they.ferve  without  pay,  and  form  two  regiments  of 
about  three  hundred  effeOiive  men  each  :  thefe,  with  a  company 
of  free  blacks,  conftituted  the  whole  force  of  the  ifland  before 
the  laft  war»  Since  that  period,  a  fmall  addition  of  Britifl".. 
troops  have,  we  believe,  in  general  been  kept  there* 


(       251       ) 


ANTIGUA, 


Ai 


-NTIGUA  is  fituated  about  twenty  leagues  eaft  of  St„ 
Chriftopher's,  in  weft  longitude  60**  5^,  and  north  latitude  i-p^ 
so'.  It  is  about  fifty  miles  in  circumference,  and  is  reckoned 
the  largeft  of  all  the  Britifh  Leeward  iflands. 

This  ifland  has  neither  ftream  nor  fpring  of  frcfli  water  ;  this 
inconvenience,  which  rendered  it  uninhabitable  to  the  Caribbees, 
deterred  for  fome  time  Europeans  from  attempting  a  permanent 
ellablifhment  upon  it  ;  but  few,  if  any,  are  the  obftacles  of 
Nature,  which  civilifed  ma.i  will  not  overcome,  more  efpecially 
when  intereft  fpurs  him  on.  Tlie  foil  of  Antigua  was  found  to 
be  fertile,  and  it  foon  prefented  itfelf  to  the  view  of  enter- 
prifing  genius,  that  by  means  of  cifterns  the  neceffity  of  fprings 
and  ftreams  might  be  fuperfeded.  Hence,  as  early  as  1632,  a 
fon  of  Sir  Thomas  Warner,  and  a  number  of  other  Englifhmen, 
fettled  here,  and  began  the  cultivation  of  tobacco.  In  16-74, 
Colonel  Codrington,  of  Barbadoes,  removed  to  this  ifland,  and 
fucceeded  fo  well  in  the  culture  of  fugar,  that,  animated  by  his 
example,  and  aided  by  his  experience,  many  others  engaged  in 
the  fame  line  of  bufinefs.  A  few  years  after,  Mr.  Codrington 
was  declared  captain-general  and  commander  in  chief  of  the 
Leeward  iflands,  and  carried  his  attention  to  their  welfare  far- 
ther than  perhaps  any  other  governor  either  before  or  flnce  has 
done,  and  the  good  effefts  of  his  wifdom  and  attention  were 
loon  manifeft. 

Antigua,  in  particular,  had  fo  far  increafed,  that  in  i6go., 
when  General  Codrington  headed  an  ejjpedition  againft  the 
French  fettlement  at  St.  Chriftopher's,  it  furnifhed  eight  hun- 
dred eflFeftive  men.  Mr.  Codrington  dying  in  1698,  was  fuc- 
ceeded by  his  fon  Chriftopher,  who,  purfuing  his  father's  fteps, 
held  the  government  till  1704,  when  he  was  fuperfeded  by  Sir 
William  Matthews,  who  died  foon  after  his  arrival.  Queen 
Anne  then  beftowed  the  government  on  Daniel  Park,  Efq.  a 
man  who  for  debauchery,  villainy  and  defpotifm,  though  he 
may  have  been  equalled,  was  certainly  never  excelled.  Plis 
government  lafted  till  Dec.  1710,  when  his  oppvefTions  aroufeji 

K  k  2 


252  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

.  the  inhabitants  to  refiftance  :  he  was  feized  by  the  enraged  ntul-  ^^ 
titude  and  torn  to  pieces,  and  his  reeking  limbs  fcattered  about 
the  ftreet.  An  inqi^iry  was  inflituted  with  refpeft  to  the  per- 
petration of  this.att;  the  people  of  England  were  divided,  fome 
looking  upon  his  death  as  an  aft  of  rebellion  againft  the  crown^ 
others  viewing  it  as  a  jufl  facrifice  to  liberty.  The  governr 
ment,  however,  after  a  full  inquiry,  were  fo  fully  fatisfied  of 
Park's  guilty  and  illegal  condutl,  that,  much  to  their  honour, 
they  ifiued  a  general  pardon  for  all  perfons  concerned  in  his 
death,  and,  iome  time  afterwards,  fanftioned  the  promotion  of 
two  of  the  principal  perpetrators  to  feats  irv  the  council. 

The  principal  article  raifed  in  this  ifiand  is  fugar  ;  befidcs 
which,  cotton-wool  and  tobacco  is  raifed  in  confiderable  quan- 
tities, and  likewife  provifions  to  a  confiderable  amount  in  fa- 
vourable years. 

Crops  here  are  very  unequal,  and  it  is  exceeding  difficult  to 
furnifli  an  average:  in  1779,  there  was  fliipped  three  thoufand 
three  hundred  and  eighty-two  hogfheads  and  five  hundred  and 
feventy-nine  tierces  of  fugar:  in  1782,  the  crop  was  fifteen 
thoufand  one  hundred  and  two  hogfheads  and  one  thoufand  fix 
hundred  and  three  tierces:  in  1770,  1773,  and  1778,  there 
were  no  crops  of  any  kind,  owing  to  long  continued  drought. 
The  ifland  is  progrelfively  decreafing  in  produce  and  population. 
The  laft  accurate  returns  to  government  were  made  in  the  year 
1774,  when  the  white  inhabitants  of  all  ages  and  fexes  were 
two  thoufand  five  hundred  and  ninety,  and  the  enflaved  blacky 
thirty-feven  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  eight :  feventeen  thou- 
fand hogfheads  of  fugar  of  fixteen  hundred  weight  each,  are 
deemed,  on  the  whole,  a  good  faving  crop  ;  as  one-half  of  the 
canes  only  are  cut  annually,  this  is  about  an  hogfhead  to  the 
acre. 

Antigua  is  divided  into  fix  parifhes  and  eleven  diftrifts,  and 
contains  fix  towns  and  villages.  St.  John's,  which  is  the  capi- 
tal, Parham,  Falmouth,  Willoughby  bay,  Old  road,  and  James's 
fort  ;  the  two  firft  are  the  legal  ports  of  entry.  The  ifland  has 
many  excellent  harbours,  particularly  Englifh  harbour  and  St, 
John's,  at  the  former  of  which  there  is  a  dock-yard  and  arfenal 
eilablifhed  by  the  Englifn  government. 

The  military  cfl;ablifhment  here  is  two  regiments  of  infantry 
and  two  of  nulitia,  befides  which  there  is  a  fquadron  of  dra- 
goons and  a  battalion  of  artillery  raifed  in  the  ifland.  The 
governor,  or  captain-general,  of  the  Leeward  iflands,  though 
directed   by    his    inftruftions  to    vifit    each  ifland    within    his 


0  E  4NTIGUA,  253 

government,  i§  generally  ftationary  at  Antigua  :  in  hearing  the 
caufes  from  the  other  iflands  he  fits  alone,  but  in  caufes  arifing 
within  the  ifland  he  is  aflifted  by  a  council ;  and  by  an  aft  of 
affetnbly,  fanftioned  by  the  crown,  the  prefident  and  a  majority 
of  the  council  may  hear  and  determine  chancery  caufes  during 
the  abfence  of  the  governor-general  ;  befides  this  court,  there 
is  a  court  of  King's  Bench,  a  court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  a 
court  of  Exchequer. 

The  legiflature  of  Antigua  confifts  of  the  commander  in 
chief,  a  council  of  twelve  members,  and  an  aflembly  of  twenty- 
five.  The  legiflature  of  Antigua  fet  the  firft  example  of  a 
melioration  of  the  criminal  law  refpefting  negro  flaves,  by 
allowing  fchem  a  trial  by  jury,  &c.  And  the  inhabitants,  ftill 
more  to  their  honour,  have  encouraged  the  propagation  of  the 
gofpel  among  their  flaves, 


C     «54     ) 


GRENADA, 


AND     THE 


GRE  NA  D  IN£;S. 


G, 


'RENADA  lies  in  weft  longitude  6i9  40/,  north  latitude 
12*^  o'.  It  is  the  laft  of  the  windward.  Catibbees,  and  lies 
thirty  leagues  north  of  New-Andaluiia,  on  the  continent. 
According  to  fome,  it  is  twenty-four  leagues  in  compafs  ;  ac- 
cording to  others,  only  twenty- two  ;  and  it  is  faid  to  be  thirty 
miles  in  length,  and  in  fome  places  fifteen  in  breadth.  The 
iiland  abounds  with  wild  game  and  fifh  )  it  produces  alfo  very 
fine  timber,  but  the  cocoa  tree  is  obferved  not  to  thrive  here 
(o  well  as  in  the  other  iflands.  A  lake  on  a  high  mountainj, 
about  the  middle  of  the  ifland,  fupplles  it  with  frefh  water 
ilreams.  Several  bays  and  harbours  lie  round  the  ifland,  fome 
of  which  might  be  fortified  to  great  advantage  ;  fo  that  it  is. 
very  convenient  for  (hipping,  not  being  fubjeft  to  hurricanes. 
Tka  foil  is  capable  of  producing  tobacco,  lugar,  indigo,  peafe 
and  millet. 

Columbus  found  it  inhabited  by  a  fierce,  warlike  people, 
who  were  left  in  quiet  poffefTion  of  the  ifland  till  16505 
though,  according  to  others,  in  1638,  M.  Poincy,  a  French- 
man, attempted  to  make  a  fettlement  in  Grenada,  but  was 
chiven  oif  by  the  Caribbeans,  who  reforted  to  this  ifland  in 
greater  numbers  than  to  the  neighbouring  ones,  probably  on 
account  of  the  game  with  which  it  abounded.  In  1650,  how- 
ever, Monf.  Parquet,  governor  of  Martinico,  carried  over  from 
that  ifland  two  hundred  men,  furniflied  v/ith  prelents  to  re- 
concile the  favages  to  them  ;  but  with  arms  to  iubdue  them,  in 
cafe  they  fhould  prove  untraftable.  Tlie  favages  are  faid  to 
have  been  friglitcned  into  lubmiflion  by  the  number  of  French- 
mcij,  but,  according  to'  fome  French  writers,  the  chief  not 
only  welcome'd  the  new-comers,  but,  in  confidcration  of  fome 
knives,  lintchets,  fcilfar.*,  and  other  toys,  yielded  to  Parquet 
the  lovcrcignty  of  the  ifland,  relerving  to  themielves  their  own 
habitations,  'J"he  Abbe  Raynal  informs  us,  that  thefe  firft 
French    colonifl.5,   imagining    they    had   puichafcd  the  ifland  by 


OF    GRENADA.  ..^ 

VHt(c  trifles,  affumed  the  fovereignty,  and  foon  a£led  as  tyrants. 
The  Caribs,  unable  to  contend  with  them  by  force,  toolc 
their  ufual  method-  of  murdering  all  thofe  whom  they  found 
in  a  defencelefs  ftate.  This  produced  a  war  ;  and  the  French, 
fettlers,  having  received  a  reinforcement  of  three  hundred  men 
from  Martinico,  forced  the  favagefs  to  retire  to  a  mountain  J 
from  whence,  after  exhaufting  all  their  arrows,  they  rolled 
down  great  logs  of  wood  on  their  enemies.  Here  they  were 
joined  by  other  favages  from  the  neighbouring  iflands,  and  again 
attacked  the  French,  but  were  defeated  anev/  ;  and  were  at  laft 
driven  to  fuch  defperation,  that  forty  of  them,  who  had  efcap- 
ed  from  the  flaughter,  jumped  from  a  precipice  into  the  fea, 
where  they  all  periflied,  rather  than  fall  into  the  hands  of  their 
implacable  enemies.  From  thence  the  rock  was  called  Ig  morne 
des /auteiirsj  orj  "  the  hill  of  the  leapers,"  which  name  it  ftill 
retains.  The  FretVch  then  deftroyed  the  habitations  and  all  the 
provifions  of  the  favages  ;  but  frefla  fupplies  of  the  Caribbeans 
arriving,  the  war  was  renewed  with  great  vigour,  and  great 
lumbers  of  the  French  were  killed.  Upon  this  they  refolded 
totally  to  exterminate  the  natives ;  and  having  accordinp-ly 
attacked  the  favages  unawares,  they  inhumanly  put  to  death 
'the  women  and  children,  as  well  as  the  men  ;  burning  all  their 
boats  and  canoes,  to  cut  ofF  all  coitimunication  between  the 
few  furvivors  and  the  neighbouring  iflands.*  Notwithftandin* 
dll  thefe  barbarous  precautions,  however,  the  Garibbees  proved 
the  irreconcileable  enemies  of  the  French  ;  and  their  frequent 
infurreftions  at  lad  obliged  Parquet  to  fell  all  his  property  in 
the  ifland  to  the  Count  de  Cerillac  in  i65'7.f  The  new  pro- 
prietor, who  purchafed  Parauet's  property  for  thirty  thoufand 
crowns,  fent  thither  a  pcrfon  of  brutal  manners  to  govern  the 
ifland.  He  behaved  with  futh  inlupportable  tyranny,  that 
moft  of  the  co}onifl;s  retired  to  Martinico  ;  and  the  few  who' 
temained  condemned  him   to  death   after  a  formal  trial,      in  ths 


*  Of  the  manner  in  which  thefe  perfons  carried  on  the  war  againft  the  natives* 
i.  pretty  correft  eftimate  may  be  formed  from  the  following  circumftance  ;  a 
beautiful  -^oung  gill,  of  twelve  or  thif-teen  years  of  age,  who  was  taken  alive, 
became  the  objeiB:  of  difpute  between  two  of  the  French  officers  ;  each  of  thenx 
claiming  her  as  his  prize,  a  third  coming  up,  put  an  end  to  the  CGnteff  by  (hoor- 
ing  the  girl  through  the  head. 

f  Mr.  Edwards  attributes  this  fa le  to  another  caufe  ;  he  fays,  the  Carlbbee?^' 
were  totally  e.xtinft,  and  that  it  was  the  gi'eat  e.vpenfe  '  which  Parquet  had  been 
at  in  conquering  the  ifland  which  obliged  him  to  fell  it. 


256  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

•whole  court  of  juftice  that  tried  this  tnifcreant,  there  was  only 
one  man  (called  Archangeli)  who  could  write.  A  farrier  was 
the  perlon  who  impeached;  and  he,  inftead  of  the  fignatures, 
fealed  with  A  horfe-fhoe  ;  and  Archangeli,  who  performed  the 
office  of  clerk,  wrote  round  it  thefe  words  in  French,  "  Mark 
of  Mr.  de  la  Brie,  counfel  for  the  court." 

Cerillac  receiving,  as  fuppofed,  but  little  profit  from  his 
capital,  conveyed  all  his  rights,  &c.  to  the  French  Weft-India 
company;  the  charter  of  which  being  abolilhed  in  1674,  the 
ifland  became  vefted  in  the  crown  of  France.  Undef  the  vari^ 
ous  calamities  to  which  this  ifland  was  fubjefted,  it  will  not  be 
fuppofed  to  have  made  much  progrefs.  By  an  account  taken 
in  1700,  there  were  at  Grenada  no  more  than  two  hundred  and 
fifty-one  white  people,  fifty-three  free  favages  or  mulattoes,  and 
five  hundred  and  tv/enty-five  (laves.  The  ufeful  animals  were 
reduced  to  fixty-four  horfes  and  five  hundred  and  lixty-nine 
head  of  horned  cattle*  The  whole  culture  confi-fted  of  three 
plantations  of  fugar,   and  fifty-two  of  indigo. 

This  unfortunate  ftate  of  the  affairs  of  Grenada  was  changed 
in  1714.  The  change  was  owing  to  the  fldurifliing  condiiioni 
of  Martinico.  The  richfeft  of  the  Ihips  from  that  ifland  were 
fent  to  the  Spanifh  coafts,  and  in  their  way  touched  at  Grenada 
to  take  in  refrefliments.  The  trading  privateers,  who  under- 
took this  navigation,  taught  the  people  of  that  ifland  the  value 
of  their  foil,  which  only  required  cultivation.  Some  traders 
furniflied  the  inhabitants  with  flaves  and  utenfils  to  ereft  fugar 
plantations.  An  open  account  was  eftablifhed  between  the 
two  colonies.  Gfenada  was  clearing  its  debts  gradually  by  its 
rich  produce,  and  the  balance  was  on  the  point  of  being  clofed,  - 
•\v!ien  the  war  in  1744  interrupted  the  communication  between 
viie  two  iilands,  and  at  the  fame  time  fl.opped  the  progrels  of 
llie  iug».r  planlations.  This  lufs  v/as  fupplied  by  the  culture 
of  coffee,  which  was  purfued  during  the  hoftilities  with  all 
the  adivity  and  eagernefs  that  indun;iy  could  inipire.  The 
peace  of  1748  revived  all  the  labouis,  and  opened  all  the 
iormer  fources  of  wealth.  In  1753,  the  population  of  Gre- 
nada confided  of  one  thoufand  two  hundred  and  fixty-two 
white  peoplcj  one  hundred  and  feventy-five  free  negroes,  and 
eleven  thouiand  nine  hundred  and  ninety-one  flaves.  The 
catile  amounted  to  two  thoufand  two  hundred  and  ninety-eight 
horfes  or  mules,  two  thouiand  four  hundred  and  fifty-fix  head 
of  honicd  cattle,  three  thoufand  two  hundred  and  ieveniy- 
cight  n:iecp,   nine  hundred  and  two  goats,  and  three    hundred 


OF    GRENADA.  557 

ind  tliirty-one  hogs.  The  cultivation  rofe  to  eighty-three  fugar 
plantations,  two  millions  feven  hundred  and  twenty-five  ihou- 
land  fix  hundred  coffee  trees,  one  hundred  and  fifty  thoufand 
three  hundred  cacoa  trees,  and  eight  hundred  cotton  plants^ 
The  provifions  confifted  of  five  millions  feven  hundred  forty 
thoufand  foUr  hundred  and  fifty  trenches  of  cafTada,  nine  hun- 
dred and  thirty-three  thoufand  five  hundred  and  ninety-fix  ba- 
nana trees,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-three  fquares  of  potatoes 
and  yams.  The  colony  made  a  rapid  progrels,  in  proportion  to 
the  excellence  of  its  foil  ;  but  in  the  courfe  of  the  laft  war  but 
»ne,  the  ifland  was  taken  by  the  Britifh.  At  this  time,  one  of 
the  mountains  at  the  fide  of  Sti  George's  harbour  was  flrongly 
fortified,  and  might  have  made  a  good  defence,  but  iurrendered 
without  firing  a  gun;  and  by  the  treaty  concluded  in  1763,  the 
ifland  was  ceded  to  Britain.  On  this  cefTion,  and  the  jrtfmage- 
ment  of  the  colony  after  that  event,  the  Abbe  Raynal  has  the 
following  remarks  :  "  This  long  train  of  evils  [the  ambition  and 
mifmanagement  of  his  countrymen])  has  thrown  Grenada  into 
the  hands  of  the  Englifh,  who  are  in  poflrefhon  of  this  conquefk 
by  the  treaty  of  1763.  But  how  long  will  they  keep  this  co- 
lony ?  Or,  will  it  never  again  be  reftored  to  France  ?  England 
made  not  a  fortunate  beginning.  In  the  ftrft  enthufiafm  raifcd 
by  an  acquifition,  of  which  the  highefl  opinion  had  been  pre- 
vioufly  formed,  every  one  was  eager  to  purchafe  eftates  there  ; 
they  fold  for  much  more  than  their  real  value.  This  caprice,  by- 
expelling  old  colonifls  who  were  inured  to  the  climate,  fenC 
about  one  million  five  hundred  and  fifty-three  thoufand  pounds 
Out  of  the  mother  country.  This  imprudence  was  followed  by 
another^  The  new  proprietors,  mifled  by  national  pride,  fubfti- 
tuted  new  methods  to  thofe  of  their  predeceflors  ;  they  attempted 
to  alter  the  mode  of  living  among  their  flaves.  The  negroes^ 
who  from  their  very  ignorance -are  more  attached  to  their  cuf- 
toms  than  other  men.  revolted.  It  was  found  neceffary  to  fend 
out  troops,  and  to  fhed  blood  :  the  whole  colony  was  filled  witlt 
fufpicions  :  the  maflers,  who  had  laid  themfelves  under  a  ncccf- 
fity  of  ufing  violent  methods,  were  afraid  of  being  burnt  or 
mafTacred  in  their  own  plantations  :  the  labours  declined,  or 
■Cv'ere  totally  interrupted.  Tranquility  was  at  length  reftored, 
and  the  number  of  flaves  increafed  as  far  as  forty  thoufand,  and 
the  produce  raifed  to  the  treble  of  what  it  was  under  the  French 
governments  The  plantations  were  farther  improved  by  the 
neighbourhood  of  a  dozen  of  iflands,  called  the  Grenadines  or 
G/enadilloes,  which  are  dependent  on  the  colony.  They  are 
'    Vol.  IV,  '     L  I 


±56  GEh'^ERAL   DESCRIPTION 

from  three  to  eight  leagues  in  circumference,  but  do  not  aftori 
a  fingle  fpring  of  water,  one  fmall  one  excepted  :  the  air  is 
wholefome  ;  the  ground,  covered  only  with  thin  bufhes,  has  not 
been  fcrcened  from  the  fun  ;  it  exhales  none  of  thofe  noxious 
vapours  which  are  fatal  to  the  hufbandman.  Cariacou,  the  only 
one  of  the  Grenadines  which  the  French  occupied,  was  at  firffi 
frequented  by  turtle  fifhermen  ;  who,  in  the  leifure  afforded 
them  by  fo  eafy  an  occupation,  employed  themfclves  in  clearing 
the  ground.  In  procefs  of  time,  their  fmall  number  was  in- 
ereafed  by  the  accefTion  of  {r>jne  of  the  inhabitants  of  Guada- 
loupc,  who  finding  that  their  plantations  were  deftroyed  by  ac 
particular  fort  of  ants,  removed  to  Cariacou.  The  ifland  flou- 
rifhed  from  the  liberty  that  was  enjoyed  there.  The  inhabitants 
collcftcd  about  one  thouland  two  hundred  flaves,  by  whofe  la- 
bours they  made  themfelves  a  revenue  of  near  twenty  thoufand 
pounds  a  year  in  cotton.  The  other  Grenadines  do  not  afford  a 
profpeft  of  the  fame  advantages,  though  plantations  are  begun 
there.  Sugar  has  fiicceeded  remarkably  well  at  Becouya,  tije 
largeft  and  moft  fertile  of  thefe  iflands,  which  is  no  more  than 
nvo  leagues  difl'ant  from  St.  Vincent." 

In  the  year  1779,  the  conquefl;  of  this  ilTand  was  accomplifhed 
by  D'Eftaing,  the  French  admiral,  who  had  been  prevented 
from  attempting  it  before  by  his  enterprife  againft  St.  Vincent. 
Immediately  after  the  conqueft  of  St.  Lucia,  however,  being  re- 
inforced by  a  fqiiadron  under  M.  de  la  Motte,  he  fet  fail  for 
Grenada  with  a  fleet  of  twenty-fix  fail  of  the  line  and  twelve 
frigates,  having  on  board  ten  thoufand  land  forces.  Here  he  ar- 
rived on  the  fecond  of  July,  and  landed  three  thoufand  troops, 
chiefly  Irifh,  being  part  of  the  brigade  compofed  of  natives  of 
Ireland  in  the  ferviee  of  France.  Thefe  were  conduced  by 
Gount  Dillon,  who  difpofed  them  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  lurround 
the  hill  that  overlooks  and  commands  George's-town,  together 
with  the  fort  and  harbour.  To  oppofe  thefe,  Lord  M'Cartney, 
the  governor,  had  only  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  regulars, 
and  three  or  four  hundred  armed  inhabitants  ;  but  though  all 
refiftance  was  evidcnlly  vain,  he  determined  ncvcrthelefs  to 
make  an  honourable  and  gallant  defence.  The  preparations  he 
made  were  fuch  as  induced  D'Eftaing  himfelf  to  be  prefent  at 
the  attack  :  and  even  with  this  vaft  fuperiority  of  force,  the  firft 
attack  on  the  entrenchments  proved  unfuccefsful.  The  fecond 
continued  two  hours,  when  the  garrifon  was  obliged  to  yield  to 
the  immcnfe  difparity  of  numbers  who  aflaulted  them,  after 
Bavirtg  killed  or   wounded  three   hundred  of  their  antagonifl:s. 


OF    GRENADA,  45^ 

Having  thus  made  themfelves  mafters  of  the  entrenchments  on 
the  hill,  the  French  turned  the  cannon  of  them  towards  the  fort 
which  lay  under  it,  on  which  the  governor  demanded  a  capitu- 
lation. The  terms,  however,  were  fo  extraordinary  and  unpre- 
cedented, that  both  the  governor  and  inhabitants  agreed  in  re- 
jefting  them,  and  determined  rather  to  iurrender  without  any 
conditions  at  all,  than  upon  thofe  which  appeared  fo  extravagant. 
This  they  did,  and  it  mud  be  acknowledged,  that  the  proteftion 
which  was  afforded  to  the  helplefs  inhabitants  of  the  town  and 
their  property,  was  fuch  as  reflefted  the  highelt  honour  and 
luftre  on  the  difcipline  and  humanity  of  the  conquerors,  pro- 
teftions  and  fafeguards  were  granted  on  every  application  ;  and 
thus  a  town  was  (aved  from  plunder  which,  by  th?  ftrift  rules 
of  war,  might  have  been  given  up  to  an  exalperated  foldiery. 

In  the  mean  time  Admiral  Byron,  who  had  been  convoying 
the  homeward  bound  Weft-India  fleet,  haftened  to  St,  Vincent, 
in  hopes  of  recovering  it ;  but  being  informed  by  the  way,  that 
a  defcent  had  been  made  at  Grenada,  he  changed  his  courfe,  hop- 
ing that  Lord  M'Cartney  would  be  able  to  hold  out  till  his  ar- 
rival. On  the  lixth  of  July  he  came  in  light  of  the  French  fleet, 
and  without  regarding  D'Eftaing's  fuperiority  of  fix  (hips  of  the 
line  and  as  many  frigates,  determined,  if  polFible,  to  force  him 
to  a  clofe  engagement.  The  French  commander,  however,  was 
not  fo  confident  of  his  oWn  prowels  as  to  run  the  rifk  of  an  en- 
counter of  this  kind,  and  having  already  achieved  his  conqueft, 
had  no  other  view  than  to  preferve  it.  His  defigns  were  facili- 
tated by  the  good  condition  of  his  fleet,  which  being  more 
lately  come  out  of  port  than  that  of  the  BritiHi,  failed  faftcr,  fo 
that  he  was  thus  enabled  to  keep  at  what  diftance  he  pleafed. 
The  engagement  began  at  eight  in  the  morning,  when  Admiral 
Barrington  with  his  own  and  two  other  fhips  got  up  to  the  van 
of  the  enemy,  which  they  attacked  with  the  greateil  fpirit.  As 
the  other  fhips  of  his  divifion,  however,  were  not  able  to  get 
up  to  his  afiiftance,  thefe  three  fhips  were  neceffarily  obliged  to 
encounter  a  vaft  fuperiority,  and  of  confcqucnce  luffered  ex- 
ceedingly. The  battle  was  carried  on  from  beginning  to  end 
in  the  lame  unequal  manner;  nor  were  the  Britifh  commanders, 
though  they  ufed  their  utmoft  efforts  for  this  purpoie,  able  to 
bring  the  French  to  a  clofe  engagement.  Thus  Captains  Col- 
lingwood,  Edwardsj  and  Cornwallis,  ftood  the  fire  of  the  whole 
French  fleet  for  lome  time.  Captain  Fanfhaw  of  the  Mon- 
mouth, a  fixty-four  gun  fhip,  threw  himlelf  fingly  in  the  way 
of  the  enemy's  van ;  and  Admiral  Rov.ley  and  Captain  Buchart 

L  1  2 


qGo  general  description 

fought  at  tiie  fame  difadvantage :  fo  that  finding  it  impoITible  to 
continue  the  engagement  with  any  probability  of  fuccefs,  »  gene- 
ral ceifation  of  firing  took  place  about  noon.  It  re-commenced 
in  the  fame  manner  about  two  in  the  afternoon,  and  Lifted  with 
tlifrerent  interruptions  till  the  evening.  During  this  aftion  fome 
of  the  Britifh  fiiips  had  forced  their  way  into  St,  George's  har- 
bour, not  im:igining  that  the  enemy  were  already  in  polTeirion  of 
the  illand.  They  were  loon  undeceived,  however,  by  perceiv- 
ing the  French  colours  flying  afhore,  and  the  guns  and  batteries 
firing  at  them.  This  dilcoVery  put  an  end  to  the  dcHgn  which 
had  brought  on  the  engagement ;  and  as  it  was  now  high  time  to, 
think  of  providing  for  the  fafety  of  tlie  Britifli  tranfports, 
xvhich  were  in  danger  from  the  number  of  the  enemy's  frigatesi 
the  engagement  was  finally  difcontinued.  During  this  aftion 
fome  of  Admiral  Bvron's  fhips  had  fufFered  extremely  ;  the 
Lion  of  fixt\%.four  guns,  Captain  Cornw'allis,  was  found  inca- 
pable of  re-joining  the  fleet,  which  were  plying  to  windward, 
and  was  therefore  obliged  to  bear  away  alone  before  the  wind. 
Two  other  fliips  lay  far  aftern  in  a  very  diftred'ed  fituation,  but 
no  attempt  was  made  to  capture  them,  nor  did  the  French  admi- 
ral fiiow  the  leaft  inclination  to  renew  the  engagement. 

Grenada  was  again  reftored  to  Great-Britain  at  the  peace  of 
Paris;  it  contains  about  eighty  thoufand  acres  of  land,  of  which 
although  nolcfs  than  feventy-two  thoufand  one  hundred  and  forty- 
one  acres  paid  taxes  in  1776,  and  may  therefore  be  fuppo/ed  fit 
for  cultivation,  yet  the  quantity  actually  cultivated  has  never 
exceeded  fifty  thoufand  acres.  The  face  of  the  country  is 
mountainous,  but  not  inacceflTible  in  any  part,  and  abounds  with 
fprings  and  rivulets.  To  the  north  and  the  eaft,  the  foil  is  a 
brick  mould,  the  fame,  or  nearly  the  fame,  as  that  of  which 
mention  has  been  made  in  the  hiftory  of  Jamaica  ;  on  the  wcfl 
fide,  it  is  a  rich  black  mould  on  a  fubflratum  of  yellow  clay  ;  to 
the  fouth,  the  land  in  general  is  poor,  and  of  a  reddifh  hue,  and 
the  fame  extends  over  a  confiderable  part  of  the  interior  country. 
On  the  whole,  however,  Grenada  appears  to  be  fertile  in  a  high 
degree,  and  by  the  variety,  as  well  as  the  excellence  of  its  le- 
turnp,  feeras  adapted  to  every  tropical  produflion.  The 
exports  of  the  year  1776,  from  Grenada  and  its  depen- 
dcncic?,  were  fourteen  millions  twelve  thoufand  one  hun- 
dred and  fihy-fevcn  pounds  of  mufcovado,  and  nine  millions 
two  hundred  and  feventy-thrce  thoufand  fix  hundred  and 
fevcn  pounds  of  clayed  fiigar,  eight  hundred  and  eighteen 
thoufand  levtn  hundied  gallons  of  rum,  one  million  eight  hujit 


OF    G  R  E  /;  A  D  A.  sGi 

idrccl  and  .twenty-feven    thoufand    one   hundred  and    fixty-fix 
pounds  of  cofFee,  four  hundred  and  fifcy-lcven  thoufand    icven 
hundred    and   nineteen    pounds  of  cacoa,  ninety-one    thoufand 
nine   hundred  and  forty-three  pounds  of  cotton,  twenty-feven 
thoufand   fix    hundred   and  thirty-eight   pounds    of  indigo,  and 
fome  fmaller   articles  ;  the  whole  of  which,  on  a  nioderate  com- 
putation, could  not  he  worth  lefs,  at  the  ports  of  fhipping,  than 
fix  hundred  thoufand  pounds  fterling,  excluding  freight,  duties, 
infurance,  and  other  charges.       It   defarves    to  be  remembered 
too,  that   the    fugar   was    the  produce    of  one  hundred   and    fi>: 
plantations  only,  and  that   they   were    v/orked  by  eighteen  thou- 
fand  two   hundred   and   ninety-three  negroes,   which  was  there- 
fore   rather   moie   than  one  hogfhead  of  fixteen  hundred  weight 
fiom  the  labour  of  each  negro,  old  and  young,  employed  in  the 
cultivation    of  that   commodity;  a   prodigious   return,   equalled, 
we  believe,  by   no   Britifh  ifland  in  the  Weft-Indies,  St.  Chrif- 
topher's    excepted.     The    exports   of  1787    will    be  given  here- 
after ;  they  will  be  found,  except  in  one   or  two  articles,  to  fall 
greatly  fhort  of  thofe  of  1776. 

This  ifland  is  divided  into  fix  pariflies  ;  St.  George,  St, 
David,  St.  Andrew,  St.  Patrick,  St.  Mark,  and  St.  John  ; 
and  its  chief  dependency,  Cariacou,  forms  a  feventh  parifli. 
It  is  only  fince  the  reftoration  of  Grenada  to  Great-Britain  by 
the  peace  of  1783,  that  an  ifland  law  has  been  obtained  for  the 
ellablifhment  of  a  Proteftant  clergy.  This  aft  pafl'ed  in  1784, 
and  provides  ftipends  of  three  hundred  and  thirty  pounds 
currency,  and  fixty  pounds  for  houfe  rent  per  annum,  for  five 
clergymen^  viz.  one  for  the  town  and  parifh  of  St.  Geoige, 
three  for  the  other  five  out  pariflics  of  Grenada,  and  one  for 
Cariacou.  Befides  thefe  ftipends,  there  are  valuable  glebe  lands, 
which  had  been  appropriated  to  the  fupport  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  clergy,  whllft  that  was  the  eftablilhed  religion  of 
Grenada.  Thefe  lands,  according  to  an  opinion  of  the  attorney 
and  follcitor-general  of  England,  to  whom  a  queftion  on  this 
point  was  referred  by  the  crown,  became  vefted  in  his  Majefty 
as  public  lands,  on  the  reftoration  of  the  ifland  to  the  Britifli 
government,*  and   we   believe  have   fince   been   applied  by  the 

*  If  the  decifion  of  t'ne  attorney-general  and  folicitor-genera<  was  founded 
on  juftice,  and  the  government  of  Great-Britain  had  a  right  to  fcize  thefe  lands 
and  apply  them  to  a  different  purpofc  than  that  which  they  were  originally  in- 
tended, and  beftowed  for,  the  fame  principle  muft  juftify  the  French  govern- 
ment in  feizing  the  church  lands  as  public  property,  and  applying  them  to  the 
benefit  of  their  country ;  hence  it  appears  that  what  has  been  termed  the  tnoft; 
daring  facrilege  and  ufurpation  when  done  in  France,  is  faiiflioned  in  Great- 
Britain  by  legal  authority  as  an  aft  of  juftice. 


263  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

colonial  legiflature,  with  the  confent  of  the  crown,  to  the 
farther  fupport  of  the  Proteftant  church,  with  fome  allowance 
for  the  benefit  of  the  tolerated  Romifii  clergy  of  the  remaining 
French  inhabitants. 

The  capital  of  Grenada,  by  an  order  of  gov'ernor  Melville, 
foon  after  the  cefllon  of  the  country  to  Great-Britain  by  the 
peace  of  Paris,  was  called  St.  George.  By  this  ordinance,  the 
Englifh  names  were  given  to  the  feveral  towns  and  parifhes, 
and  their  French  names  forbidden  to  be  thereafter  uled  in  any 
public  afts.  The  French  name  of  the  capital  was  Fort  Royale  ; 
it  is  fituated  in  a  fpacious  bay,  on  the  weft  or  lee  fide  of  the 
ifland,  not  far  from  the  fouth  end,  and  poffeffes  one  of  the 
fafcft  and  moft  commodious  harbours  for  fhipping  in  the  Englifh 
Weft-Indies,  which  has  lately  been  fortified  at  a  very  great 
expenfe. 

The  other  towns  in  Grenada  are,  properly  fpeaking,  inconfi- 
derable  villages  or  hamlets,  which  are  generally  fituated  at  the 
bays  or  (hipping  places  in  the  feveral  out  parifhes.  The 
parifh  town  of  Cariacou  is  called  Hillft)orough. 

Grenada  has  two  ports  of  entry,  with  feparate  eftablifhments, 
and  diftinft  revenue  officers,  independent  of  each  other,  viz. 
one  at  St.  George,  the  capital,  and  one  at  Grenville  bay,  a 
town  and  harbour  on  the  eaft  or  windward  fide  of  the  ifland. 
The  former,  by  the  2'7th  George  III.  c.  27,  is  made  a  free 
port. 

It  appears  that  the  white  population  of  Grenada  and  the 
Grenadines  has  decreafed  confiderably  fince  thefe  iflands  firft 
came  into  the  pofleffion  of  the  Englifli.  The  number  of  white 
inhabitants,  in  the  year  1771,  were  known  to  be  fome  what 
more  than  fixteen  hundred  ;  in  1777,  they  had  decreafed  to 
thirteen  hundred  ;  and  at  this  time  they  are  fuppofed  not  to 
exceed  one  thoufand,  of  which  about  two  thirds  are  men  able 
to  bear  arms,  and  incorporated  into  five  regiments  of  militia, 
including  a  company  of  free  blacks  or  mulattoes  attached  to 
each.  There  are  likewife  about  five  hundred  regular  troops 
from  Great-Britain,  which  are  fupported  on  the  Britifh  eftab- 
lifhment.  Befides  the  regular  troops  which  arc  fent  from 
Great-Britain  for  the  proteftion  of  Grenada,  there  are  in  its 
garrifon  three  companies- of  king's  negroes,  which  came  from 
America,  where  they  ferved  in  three  capacities,  as  pioneers, 
artificers,  and  light  dragoons.  In  Grenada  they  form  a  com- 
pany of  each,  and  are  commanded  by  a  lieutenant  of  the  regu- 
lars, having  captain's  rank. 


OF    GRENADA.  263 

*the  negro  (laves  have  alfo  decreafed.  By  the  laft  returns 
preceding  the  capture  of  the  ifland  in  1779,  they  were  ftated 
at  thirty-five  thoufand,  of  which  five  thoufand  were  in  Cari- 
acou,  and  the  fmaller  iflands.  In  1785  they  amounted,  to  no 
more  than  twenty-three  thoufand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-lix 
in  the  whole.  The  decreafe  was  owing  partly  to  the  want  of 
any  regular  fupply  during  the  French  government,  and  partly 
to  the  numbers  carried  from  the  ifland  by  the  French  inhabi- 
tants, both  before  and  after  the  peace. 

The  free  people  of  colour  amounted  in  1787,  to  one  thoufand 
one  hundred  and  fifteen.  To  prevent  the  too  great  inereafe 
of  this  mixed  race,  every  manumiflion  is,  by  an  aft  of  this 
ifland,  charged  with  a  fine  of  one  hundred  pounds  currency, 
payable  into  the  public  treafury.  But  this  law  has  neither 
operated  as  a  produftive  fund,  nor  as  a  prohibition  ;  for  it  is 
ufually  evaded  by  executing  and  recording  afts  of  manumiffion 
in,  fome  other  ifland  and  government  where  there  is  no  fuch 
law.  The  evidence  of  all  free  coloured  people,  whether  born 
free  or  manumitted,  is  received  in  the  courts  of  this  ifland,  oti 
their  producing  fufficient  proof  of  their  freedom  ;  and  fuch  free 
people  are  tried  on  criminal  charges  in  the  fame  manner  as 
whites,  without  diflinftion  of  colour.  They  are  alfo  allowed  to 
pofTefs  and  enjoy  lands  and  tenements  to  any  amount,  provided 
ihey  are  native-born  fubjefts  or  capitulants,  and  not  aliens. 

The  governor,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  is  chancellor,  ordinary, 
and  vice-admiral,  and  prefides  folely  in  the  courts  of  chancery 
and  ordinary,  as  in  Jamaica.  His  falary  is  three  thoufarid  two 
hundred  pounds  currency  per  annum,*  which  is  raifed  bj'^  a 
poll  ta^c  on  all  flaves  ;  and  it  is  the  praftice  in  Grenada  to  pafs 
a  falary  bill  on  the  arrival  of  every  new  governor,  to  continue 
during  his  government.  In  all  cafes  of  abfence  beyond  twelve 
jnonths,  the  falary  ceafes  and  determines. 

The  council  of  Grenada  confifl:s  of  twelve  melfebers  and 
the  affembly  of  twenty- fix.  The  powers,  privileges  and  func- 
tions of  both  thefe  branches  of  the  legiflature  are  the  fame, 
and  exercifed  preciiely  in  the  fame  manner  as  thofe  of  the 
council  and  affembly  in  Jamaica.  A  freehold  or  life  ellate,  of 
fifty  acres,  is  a  qualification  to  fit  as  reprefentatives  for  the 
pariflies,  and:  a  freehold  or  life  eflate  in  fifty  pounds  houfe  rent 
in    St.    George,    qualifies  a  reprelentative    for   the    town.     An 


*  The  currency  of  Grenada,  or  rate  of  exchange,  is  coniiiioaly  fifty-five  per 
cent,  worfe  than  flerling. 


ibi  GENERAL  DZSCRIt'TlON 

eftate  of  ten  acres  in  fee,  or  for  life,  or  a  rent  of  ten  pound? 
in  any  of  the  out  towns,  gives  a  vote  for  the  reprefentatives  of 
each  parifh  refpeftively;  and  a  rent  of  twenty  pounds  per  ann^ 
iflfuiug  out  of  any  freehold  or  life  eftate  in  the  tow^n  of  St. 
George,  gives  a  vote  for  the  rcprcfentative  for  the  town. 

The  law  courts  in  Grenada,  befides  thofe  of  chancery  and 
ordinary,  are  the  court  of  grand  feffions  of  the  peace,  held 
twice  a  year,  viz.  in  March  and  September.  In  this  court 
the  firft  perfon  named  in  the  commifTion  of  the  peace  prefides^ 
who  is  ufually  the  prcfident  or  fenior  in  council. — The  court 
of  common  pleas  :  this  court  confifts  of  one  chief  and  four 
alTiftant  juftiees,  whole  commifTions  are  during  pleafure.  The 
-  chief  juftice  is  ufually  appointed  in  England,  a  profefTional  man,- 
and  receives  a  falary  of  fix  hundred  pounds  per  annum.  The 
four  afTiftant  juftices  are  ufually  appointed  by  the  governor  from: 
among  the  gentlemen  of  the  ifland,  and  aft  without  a  falary. — 
The  court  of  exchequer  :  the  barons  of  this  court  are  cotn- 
milTioned  in  like  manner  as  in  the  court  of  common  pleas  ;  but 
this  court  is  lately  grown  into  difufe. — The  court  of  admiralty 
for  trial  of  all  prize  caules  of  capture  from  enemies  in  war,  and 
cf  revenue  ieizure  in  peace  or  war.  There  is  one  judge  of 
admiralty  and  one  furrogate. — The  governor  and  council  com- 
pote a  court  of  error,  as  in  Jamaica,  for  trying  all  appeals  of 
error  from  the  court  of  common  pleas. 

We  have  already  noticed  that  there  are  federal  fmall  iflnnds 
fubjett  to  the  laws  enafted  in  Grenada  ;  they  each  eleft  a; 
'  perfon  to  reprefent  them  in  the  general  alTembly,  which  is 
always  held  in  St.  George's.  As  none  of  the  Grenadines  have 
a  harbour  fit  for  large  veffcls,  the  produce  of  them  is  conveyed 
in  fmall  vellels  to  St.  George's,  from  whence  it  is  exported  to 
the  different  places  of  Europe,  Africa,  America,  &c.  From 
the  number  of  vefTels  that  arrive  there  yearly  from  .different 
places,  and  from  its  being  the  feat  of  the  legillature,  it  has 
becfime  fo  populous,  that  two  newfpapers  are  publifhed  in  if. 
On  occafion  of  the  late  profpeft  of  a  war  with  Spain,  an  aft 
was  paffed  here  in  February  1790,  obliging  every  gentleman  to- 
give  in  upon  oath  the  value  of  his  eftate,  and  the  number  of 
blacks  upon  it,  in  order  that  the  general  afferably  might  afcer-^ 
Hain  the  number  of  ftaves  each  Ihould  fend  to  work  upon  the 
fortifications  on  Richmond  hill,  near  St.  Geoige's. 

We  fiiall  clofe  our  account  of  this  iftand  with  a  view  of  its 
exports  in  1787,  with  an  account  of  its  value  in  the  Britifh 
market. 


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(     266    ) 


DOMINICA. 


T. 


HIS  ifland  is  liluated  between  61^  and  62°  wefl  longitude^ 
and  15°  and  16?  north  latitude,  is  about  twenty-nine  miles 
long,  and  fixteen  broad  ;  it  was  fo  named  by  Columbus,  on  ac- 
count of  its  being  dilcovered  on  a  Sunday.  Prior  to  the  year 
J  759,  its  hiflory  is  a  mere  blank  ;  at  the  above  period  it  was 
taken  by  Great-Britain  from  France,  and  afterwards  confirmed 
to  her  at  the  peace  in  1763. 

When  Great-Britain  took  poffeflion  of  this  ifland,  many 
Frenchmen  had  eftabliflied  plantations  of  coffee  in  various  parts 
thereof,  and  thele  were  fecured  in  their  pollefhons  by  the  Eri- 
tifh  government,  on  condition  of  taking  the  oaths  of  allegiance, 
and  paying  a  quit  rent  of  two  (hillings  per  acre  per  annum, 
provided  each  plariation  did  not  confift  of  more  than  three 
hundred  acres.  The  reft  of  t'he  cultivable  lands  were  fold  by 
auftion  under  the  infpeflion  of  commiflioners  appointed  for 
that  purpofe  :  ninety-fix  thoufand  three  hundred  and  forty-four 
acres  were  thus  difpoled  of,  which  yielded  to  the  Britifh  go- 
vernment three  hunai"ed  and  twelve  thoufand  and  ninety-two 
pounds  eleven  fliillings  and  one  penny  fuelling.  Thefe  pur- 
chafes  made  by  Britifh  fubjcfts  do  not  appear  to  have  anfwered 
the  expedition  of  the  buyers,  for  the  French  inhabitants  are 
ftill  the  moft  numerous,  and  poflefs  the  moft  valuable  coffee 
plantations  in  the  ifland,  the  produce  of  which  has  hitherto 
been  found  its  moft   important  ftaple. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  unjuft  and  deftruftive  war 
againft  the  American  colonies  by  Great-Britain,  the  ifland  of 
Dominica  was  in  a  very  flourlfhing  ftate.  Rofeau,  its  capital, 
had  been  declared  a  fiee  port  by  aft  of  pa;';ament,  and  was 
reforted  to  by  trading  veflels  from  moft  part  of  the  foreign 
Weft-Indies,  as  well  as  from  America.  The  French  and  Spa- 
niards pnrchafed  great  numbers  of  negroes  there  for  the  fupply 
of  their  ftUtlemenis,  together  with  large  quantities  of  the  nna- 
!iuf<ictures  of  Great-Britain,  payment  for  the  greater  part  of 
which  was  made  in  bullion,  indigo,  and  cotton,  and  completed 
in  mules  and  cattle,  arucles  of  prime  neceiliiy   to   the   planter. 


OF  DOMIN  ICA.  267 

Thus  the  ifland,  though  certainly  not   fo   fertile  as  fome  ethers, 
was  rapidly  advancing  to  importance. 

The  fuuation  of  this  ifland  is  between  the  Fiench  ifland  of 
Guadaloupe  and  Martinico,  with  fafe  and  commodious  roads  ami 
Harbours  for  privateers,  rendered  its  defence  an  objeft  of  the 
utmoft  importance  to  Great-Britain;  but  her  delpotic  princi- 
ples, folly,  and  frantic  rage  againll  her  colonies  on  the  conti- 
nent, caufed  a  total  negleft  of  her  Wefl-India  poiVeirions.  Pof- 
tcrity  will  fcarcely  believe  that  the  regular  force  allotted  to  this 
illand,  the  beft  adapted  of  all  others  for  the  defence  of  the  Ca- 
libbean  fea,  and  the  diftreffing  of  the  French  colonies,  confift- 
ed  only  of  fix  officers  and  ninety-four  privates.  In  1778,  the 
Marquis  de  Bouille,  the  governor  of  Martinico,  )nade  a  defcent 
with  two  thouiand  men  ;  all  refillance  being  vain,  the  only  thing 
the  garrifca  could  do  was  to  procure  as  favourable  terms  of  ca- 
pitulation as  poffible.  Thefe  were  granted  with  fuch  readineis 
as  did  great  honour  to  the  charafter  of  this  officer,  the  inhabi- 
tants experiencing  no  kind  of  change  except  that  of  transferring 
their  obedience  from  Britain  to  France,  being  left  unmoleftcd 
in  the  enjoyment  of  all  their  rights,  both  civil  and  religioti's. 
The  capitulation  was  ftriftly  obfeived  by  the  Marcjuis,  no  plun- 
der or  irregulcirity  being  allowed,  and  a  pecuniary  gratification 
being  dillributed  among  the  foldiers  and  volunteers  who  accom- 
panied him  in  the  expedition.  An  hundred  and  fixty-four 
pieces  of  excellent  cannon,  and  twenty-four  brais  mortars,  be- 
fide-s  a  large  quantity  of  military  ftores,  were  found  in  the 
place,  infomuch  that  the  French  themfelves  exprciicd  their  fur- 
priie  at  finding  fo  few  hands  to  make  ufe  of  them.  The  Mar- 
quis, however,  took  care  to  fupply  this  dcfeft,  by  leaving  a 
garrifon  of  one  thoufand  five  hundred  of  the  bell  men  he  had 
with  him. 

Though  the  conduft  of  Bouille  in  the  above  expedition  was 
fuch  as  in  every  part  hereof  to  refleft  honour  on  him  as  a  fol- 
dier  and  a  m.in,  vet  it  w.is  far  dilfercnt  with  rcfpeft  to  the  Mar- 
quis Duchilleau,  whom  Bouille  appointed  commander  in  chief 
in  Dominica.  During  five  years  and  three  months,  the  period 
this  iilind  was  fubjctl  to  the  Frencli  monarchy,  and  under  his 
adminiflration,  it  was  a  prey  to  the  mofb  villainous  del'potilirt 
and  wanton  exertion  of  power.  The  principles  of  the  late 
ccnirt  of  Verfailles  difcovered  themfelves  in  all  their  helliih 
forms.  The  EngliPn  inhabitants  were  ftripped  of  tlieir  arms, 
and    forbid    to    afrcmblc    in    any   g:c.:tcr    number   than  .two  in  * 

M    ni    2 


268  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

place,  under  the  penalty  of  military  execution  ;  and  the  centi- 
nels  were  oidered  to  flioot  them  if  they  palled  in  greater  num- 
bers. No  lights  were  to  be  fcen  in  their  houfes  after  ninp 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  nor  was  an  Englifh  perlon  to  prelume 
to  walk  the  ftrects  on  any  account  whatever  after  that  period 
without  a  lanthorn  and  candle.  Mr.  Robert  How,  an  Englifh 
merchant,  and  owner  of  a  fiiip  then  in  the  harbonr,  attempting 
to  go  on  board  after  that  time,  was  fhot  dead  in  the  attempt,  and 
the  centincl  who  did  the  aft,  promoted  for  having,  as  the  go- 
vernor expreifi-'d  it,   done  his  duty. 

The  town  of  Rofeau.was  fet  on  fire  by  the  French  foldiery, 
which  if  not  done  by  the  governor's  orders,  was  however  fanc- 
lioncd  by  him,  for  during  the  whole  night  on  which  the  me- 
lincholy  event  took  place,  he  was  prefent  like  another  Nero, 
diverting  himfelf  with  the  fcene,  and  a£lually  forbid  his  foldiers 
to  aflifi",  in  extingui{hing  the  flames,  fave  only  in  houfes  belong- 
ing to  the  French  inhabitants,  but  he  permitted,  if  he  did  not 
poiTitively  encourage,  his  men  to  plunder  the  Englifh  inhabi- 
tants in  the  midfl  of  their  diflrefs. 

The  accumulated  diftrefTes  of  the  inhabitants  ruined  a  num- 
ber of  the  planters,  who  threw  up  their  plantations,  and  aban- 
doned them.  In  1 -783  it  was  again  reftored  to  Great-Britain, 
and  the  inhabitants  reflored  to  the  enjoyment  of  their  former 
privileges. 

This  ifland  is  divided  into  ten  parifhes,  the  town  of  Rofeau, 
which  contains  only  five  hundred  houfes,  exclufive  of  the  cot- 
tages of  the  negroes,  is  the  capital  ;  it  is  fituated  on  a  point  o£ 
land  on  the  fouth-weft  fide  of  the  ifland,  which  forms  Wood- 
biidge'sand  Charlotte  Ville  bays.  The  ifland  contains  many 
high  rugged  mountains,  feveral  of  which  contain  volcanoes, 
which  frequently  difcharge  burning  fulphur,  and  from  fome  of 
the  mountains  hot  fprings  of  water  iffue.  Between  the  moun- 
tains are  many  fertile  valleys,  well  watered,  there  being  at  leafl 
thirty  fine-rivers,  befides  rivulets,  in  the  country. 

There  are  not,  however,  at  this  time,  more  than  fifty  fugar 
plantations  in  work,  and  one  year  with  another  they  do  not 
produce  more  than  from  two  to  three  thoufand  hogflieads  per 
annum.  There  are  more  than  two  hundred  coffee  plantations, 
which  fccm  to  anfwer  well,  as  in  fome  years  they  have  pro- 
duced tweniy-fix  thoufand  fcven  bundled  and  eighty-five  hundred 
weight.  -  Cacoa,  indigo  and  ginger  are  alfo  cultivated,  but  in 
a  very  fmall  degree,  for  the  chief  of  thofe  in  the  lifl  of  exports 
aie  obtained  from  South-America,  under  the  fanftion  of  the 
free  port  law. 


OF    DOMINICA,  269 

The  number  of  inhabitants,  according  to  the  return  of 
J -788,  is  as  follows:  white  inhabitants  of  all  forts,  one  thou- 
fand  two  hundred  and  thirty-fix  ;  free  negroes,  &c.  four  hun- 
dred and  forty-five ;  flaves,  fourteen  thoufand  nine  hundred 
and  fixty-feven  ;  and  about  twenty  or  thirty  families  of  Carib- 
bees.  We  fhall  clofe  this  account  with  the  following  table  of 
exports,  &c. 


GENERAL.  DESCRIPTION,  &c. 


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St.     VINCENT. 


His  ifland  contains  about  eighty-four  tlioufand  acres,  and 
is  on  the  whole  well  watered  ;  it  is  however,  in  general  moun- 
tainous and  rugged,  but  the  intermediate  vallies  are  exceeding 
fertile.  The  country  held  and  cultivated  by  the  Britifh,  at 
prefent,  does  not  exceed  twenty-three  thoufand  fix  hundred  and 
five  acres,  all  the  reft  of  the  ifland  being  held  by  the  Caribbees, 
or  incapable  of  cultivation. 

The  Spaniards,  according  to  Dr.  Campbell,  beftowcd  the 
name  of  St.  Vincent  on  this  ifland,  on  account  of  its  being 
difcovered  on  a  day  devoted  to  that  Saint  in  their  calendar  ; 
but  it  does  not  appear  that  they  ever  got  pofieflion  of  it  ou 
account  of  the  number  of  Indians  who  inhabited  it ;  but 
neither  the  natural  ftrength  of  the  ifland,  nor  their  num- 
bers, could  ultimately  exempt  them  from  European  hofti- 
lities. 

When  the  Englifh  and  French,  who  for  fome  years  had  beett 
ravaging  the  Windward  iflands,  began  to  give  fome  confiftencc 
to  their  fettlements,  in  the  year  1660  they  agreed  that  Domi- 
nica and  St.  Vincent  (hould  be  left  to  the  Caribs  as  their 
property.  Some  of  thefe  favages,  who  till  then  had  been 
difperfed,  retired  into  the  former,  and  the  greater  part  into  the 
latter.  There  thefe  mild  and-  moderate  men,  lovers  of  peace 
and  hlence,  lived  in  woods,  in  icaitered  families,  under  the 
guidance  of  an  old  man,  whom  his  age  alone  had  advanced  to 
the  dignity  of  ruler.  The  dominion  paffed  fucceflively  into 
every  family,  where  the  oldeft  always  became  king,  that  is  to 
fay,  the  guide  and  father  of  the  nation.  Thefe  ignorant  favages 
were  ftill  unacquainted  with  the  fuhlimt  art  of  fubduing  and 
governing  men  by  force  of  arms  ;  of  murdering  the  inhabi- 
tants of  a  country  to  get  poffeflion  of  their  lands  ;  of  granting 
to  the  conquerors  the  property,  and  to  the  conquered  the 
labours  of  the  conquered  cojuntry  ;  and  in  procefs  of  time,  of 
depriving  both  of  the  Irighjts  and  the  fruit  of  their  toil  by 
arbitrary  taxes. 


2)2  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

The  population  of  thefe  children  of  nature  was  fuddenly 
augmented  by  a  race  of  Africans,  whofe  origin  was  never 
pofitively  afcertained.  It  is  faid  that  a  fhip  carrying  negroes 
for  fale,  foundered  on  the  coaft  of  St.  Vincent,  and  the  flaves 
who  elcaped  the  wieck,  were  received  as  brethren  by  the 
favages.  Others  pretend  that  thcfe  negroes  were  deferters,  who 
ran  away  from  the  plantations  of  the  neighbouring  colonies. 
A  third  tradition  fays,  that  this  foreign  race  comes  from  the 
blacks  whom  the  Caribs  took  from  the  Spaniards  in  the  firft  wars 
between  thofe  Europeans  and  the  Indians.  If  we  may  credit 
Du  Tertre,  the  moft  ancient  hiftorian  who  has  written  an  ac- 
count of  the  Antilles,  thefe  terrible  favages  who  were  io  inve- 
terate againft  their  mafters,  fpared  the  captive  flaves,  brought 
them  home,  and  reftored  them  to  liberty  that  they  might  enjoy 
life,  that  is,  the  common  bleffings  of  nature,  which  no  man 
has  a  right  to  withhold  from  any  of  his  fellow  creatures. 

Their  kindnefs  did  not  ftop  here  ;  for  by  whatever  chance 
thefe  (Irangers  were  brought  into  the  ifland,  the  proprietors  of 
it  gave  them  their  daughters,  in  marriage,  and  the  race  that 
fprang  from  this  mixture  were  called  black  Caribs  :  they  have 
prelerved  njore  of  the  primitive  colour  of  their  fathers,  than  oi 
the  lighter  hue  of  their  mothers.  The  red  Caribs  are  of  a  low 
flature  ;  the  black  Caribs  tall  and  flout,  and  this  doubly- 
favage  race  {peaks  with  a  vehemence  that  feems  to  relemble 
anger. 

In  procefs  of  time,  however,  fome  differences  arofe  between 
the  two  nations  ;  the  people  of  Martinico  perceiving  this,  re- 
folved  to  take  advantage  of  their  divifions,  and  raife  thcmfelves 
on  the  ruins  of  both  parties.  Their  pretence  was,  that  the 
black  Cnribs  gave  flielter  to  the  flaves  who  deferted  from  the 
French  iflands.  Impoflure  is  always  produftive  of  injuftice. 
Thofe  who  were  falfely  accufed,  were  afterwards  attacked 
without  reafon  ;  but  the  fmallneis  of  the  numbers  lent  out 
Bgainft  them,  the  jealoulv  of  thole  who  were  appointed  to  coni- 
mand  the  expedition,  the  dcfeftion  of  the  red  Caribs,  who 
refuled  to  fupply  fuch  dangerous  allies  with  any  of  the  fuccours 
iliey  had  piomiied  them  to  aft  againft  their  rivals,  the  difhcu'.ty 
of  procuring  fubhflence,  the  impollibility  of  coming  up  with 
^enemies  who  kept  themfelves  concealed  in  woods  and  moun- 
tains ;  all  thelc  circuiwRances  confpired  to  dilconcert  this  rafh 
and  violent  enterprife.  It  was  obliged  $  be  given  up  after  the 
ids  of  many  valuable  lives;  but  the  triumph  the  favages  ob- 
tained, did  not  prevent  them  from  fuing  for  peace  as  fupplicants. 


OF  ST.  VINCENT.       '  s^q 

They  even  invited  the  French  to  come  and  live  with  them, 
IVearing  fincere  friendfhip  and  inviolable  concord.  This  pro- 
pofal  was  agreed  to,  and  the  next  year,  1719,  many  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Martinico  removed  to  St.  Vincent. 

The  firfl;  who  came  thither  fettled  peaceably,  not  only  with 
the  confent,  but  by  the  afTiftance  of  the  red  Caribs.  This  fuc- 
cefs  induced  others  to  follow  their  example  ;  but  thefc,  whe- 
ther from  jcaloufy,  or  fome  other  motive,  taught  the  favages  a 
fatal  fecret  ;  that  people,  who  knew  of  no  property  but  the 
fruits  of  the  earth,  becaufe  they  are  the  reward  of  labour,  learnt 
tvith  aftonillament  that  they  could  fell  tlie  earth  itfelf,  which 
they  had  always  looked  upon  as  belonging  to  mankind  in  gene- 
rah  This  knowledge  induced  them  to  Hieafure  and  fix  boun- 
daries, and  from  that  inftant  peace  and  happinefs  were  baniOied 
from  their  ifland  :  the  partition  of  lands  occalioned  dwitions 
amongft  them.  The  following  were  the  caufes  of  the  revolu- 
tion produced  by  the  fyftem  of  ufurpation. 

When  the  French  came  to  St,  Vincent,  they  brought  flaves 
along  with  them  to  clear  and  till  the  ground.  The  black  Ca- 
ribs, fhocked  at  the  thought  of  refembling  men  wlio  were  de- 
graded by  flavery,  and  fearing  that  fome  time  or  other  their  co- 
lour, which  betrayed  their  origin,  might  be  made  a  pretence  for 
enflaving  them,  took  refuge  in  the  thickeft  part  of  the  foreft. 
In  this  fituation,  in  order  to  imprint  an  indelible  mark  of  dif- 
tinftijon  upon  their  tribe,  that  might  be  a  perpetual  token  of 
their  independence,  they  flattened  the  foreheads  of  all  their 
children  as  foon  as  they  were  born.  The  men  and  women 
whofe  heads  could  not  bend  to  this  llrange  fhape,  dared  no 
longer  appear  in  public  witho'.Jt  this  vifible  fign  of  freedom. 
The  next  generation  appeared  as  a  new  race  ;  the  flat-headed 
Caribs,  who  were  nearly  of  the  fame  age,  tall  proper  men, 
hardy  and  fierce,   came  and  erefted  huts  by  the  fea  fide. 

They  rio  fooner  knew  the  price  which  the  Europeans  fet 
upon  the  lands  they  inhabited,  than  they  claimed  a  fliare  with 
the  other  iflanders.  This  t-ifing  fpirit  of  covetoufnefs  was  at 
firft  appeafed  by  fome  prefents  of  brandy  and  a  few  fabres;  but 
not  content  with  thefe,  they  foon  demanded  fire  arms,  as  the 
red  Caribs  had  ;  and  at  lafi;  they  were  defirous  of  having  their 
fharC  in  all  future  fales  of  land,  and  likewife  in  the  produce  of 
paft  fales.  Provoked  at  being  denied  a  part  in  this  brotherly 
repartition,  they  formed  into  a  feparate  tribe,  fworc  never  more 
to  afl'ociate  with  the  red  Caribs,  chofe  a  chief  of  their  own, 
and  declared  v.'ar, 

N  n 


274  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

The  number  of  the  combatants  might  be  equal,  but  their 
ilrcngth  was  not  fo.  The  black  Caribs  had  every  advantage 
over  the  red,  that  induflry,  valour,  and  boldnefs,  muft  foon 
acquire  over  a  weak  habit  and  a  timorous  dilpofition  But  the 
foirit  of  equity,  which  is  feldom  deficient  in  favages,  made  thd 
conqueror  confent  to  fhare  with  the  vanquiflied  all  the  territory 
lying  to  the  leeward.  It  was  the  only  one  which  both  parties 
were  defirous  of  poITciTmg,  becaufe  there  they  wcie  lare  of  re- 
ceiving prefents  from  the  French. 

The  black  Caribs  gained  nothing  by  the  agreement  which 
they  themfclves  had  drawn  up.  The  new  planters  who  came 
to  the  ifland,  always  landed  and  fettled  near  the  red  Caribs, 
v^hcre  the  coaft  was  mofl  accefiible.  This  preference  roufed 
that  enmity  which  wa«  but  ill  extinguifhed  ;  the  war  broke  out 
again ;  the  red  Caribs,  who  were  always  beaten,  retired  to 
windward  of  the  ifland  ;  many  took  to  their  canoes  and  went 
over  to  the  continent,  or  to  Tobago,  and  the  few  that  remained 
lived  feparafe  from  the  blacks. 

The  black  Caribs,  conquerors  and  maflers  of  all  the  leeward 
coaftj  required  of  the  Europeans  that  they  fhould  again  bay 
the  lands  they  had  alreadv  purchafed.  A  Frenchman  attempted 
to  fhew  the  deed  of  his  purchafe  of  feme  land  which  he  had 
bought  of  a  red  Carib  ;  "  I  know  not,"  fays  a  black  Carib, 
*•'  what  thy  p^per  fays,  but  read  \4hat  is  written  on  my  arrow  ; 
there  you  may  feCj  in  charafters  which  do  not  lie,  that  if  you 
do  not  give  me  what  1  demand,  I  will  go  and  burn  your  houfe 
to  night."  In  this  manner  did  a  people  who  had  not  learnt  to 
read,  argue  with  thofc  wT*o  derived  fuch  confequence  from 
knowing  how  to  write.  They  made  ufe  of  the  right  of  force, 
with  as  much  affurance  and  as  little  remorfe  as  if  they  had  been 
acquainted  with  divine,  political  and  civil  right. 

Time,  which  brings  on  a  change  of  ineafures  with  a  change 
of  interefts,  put  an  end  to  thefe  difturbancts.  The  French 
became  in  their  turn  the  flrongefl ;  they  no  longer  fpent  their 
time  in  breeding  poultry,  and  cultivating  vegetables,  callava, 
maize,  and  tobacco,  in  order  to  fell  them  at  Martinico.  In  lefs 
than  twenty  years  more  important  cultures  employed  eight  hun- 
dred white  men  and  three  thoufand  blacks.  Such  \yas  thefitu- 
ation  of  St.  Vincent  when  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Englifh, 
and  was  fecured  to  them  by  the  treaty  of   1763. 

It  was  in  the  weflern  part  of  the  illand  that  the  French  had 
begun  the  culture  of  cacoa  and  of  cotton,  and  had  made  confi- 
derable  advances  in  that  of  coffee.  The  conquerors  formed 
ther£  feme  fugar  plantations ;  the   impolTibility    of  multiplying 


OF   ST.    VINCENT.  275 

^liem  upon  an  uneven  foil,  which  is  full  of  ravines,  made  them 
jdefirous  of  occupying  the  plains  towards  the  eaft.  The  favages 
who  had  taken  refuge  there,  refufed  to  quit  them,  and  recourfe 
■was  had  to  arms  to  compel  them  to  it.  The  refiflance  which 
they  oppofed  to  the  thunders  of  European  tyranny,  was  not> 
and  could  not  pofTibly  be  maintained  w-ithout  grent  dilFiculty, 

An  officer  was  meafuring  out  the  ground  which  liad  juft  been 
taken  poffeflion  of,  when  the  detachment  that  accompanied  him 
was  unexpeftedly  attacked,  and  almofl  totally  deftroyed  on  the 
25th  of  March,  1775.  It  was  generally  believed  that  the  un- 
fortunate perfons  who  had  juft  been  deprived  of  their  poflef- 
fions,  were  the  authors  of  this  violence,  and  the  troops  put 
themfelves  in  motion,  and  it  was  determined  totally  to  eradicate 
and  deftroy  them. 

Fortunately  it  \vas  determined  in  time  that  the  Caribs  were 
innocent,  that  they  had  taken  or  malTacred  feveral  fugitive  flaves 
who  had  been  guilty  of  fuch  cruelties,  and  that  they  had  iworn 
not  to  ftop  till  they  had  purged  the  iiland  of  thofe  vagabonds, 
whofe  enormities  were  often  imputed  to  them.  In  order  to 
confirm  the  favages  in  this  refolution,  by  allurement  of  rewards, 
the  legiflative  bod)'^  palled  a  bill  to  inhere  a  gratuity  of  five 
moides,  or  one  hundred  and  twenty  livres,  to  any  one  who 
fhould  bring  the  head  of  a  negro,  who  fhould  have  deferted 
within  three  months. 

On  the  i()th  of  June,  1779?  St.  Vincents  fliared  the  fate 
of  many  other  Britilh- pofl'efiions  in  the  Well-Indies,  being 
taken  by  a  frnall  body  of  French  troops  from  Martinico,  com- 
manded by  a  lieutenant  in  the  navy.  The  black  CaribbeeSj, 
however,  joined  the  foe,  and  the  ifland  furrendered  without  a 
ilruggle.  The  terms  of  capitulation  were  eafy,  and  it  was  again 
reftored  in  1783  to  Gicat-Britain  ;  at  that  time  it  contained 
fixty-one  fugar  eftates,  five  hundred  acres  in  coffee,  two  hun- 
dred in  cacoa,  four  hundred  in  cotton,  fifty  in  indigo,  and  five 
hundred  in  tobacco,  befides  tlie  land  appropriated  to  the  raifing 
plantains,  yams,  maize,  &c.  AU  the  reft,  except  the  fmall  Ipots 
cultivated  by  the  native  Caribbees,  retained  its  native  woods,  as 
it  does  at  this  time. 

The  Britifh  territory  in  this  ifland  is  divided  into  five  pa- 
rifhes,  of  which  only  one  was  ever  furnifljed  with  a  church, 
which  was  blown  down  in  1780.  Kingflon  is  the  capital  of 
the  ifland,  and  the  feat  of  government.  1'here  are  befides 
J.hree  other  inconfiderable  villages,  called  towns,  but  which 
confift  each  only  of  a  few  houfes.  The  government  of  St. 
Vincent  is  the  lame  as  that  of  Grenada;   the  council    confifts  of 

N   n   2 


^jG  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

twelve,  and  the  afTembly  of  feventeen.  The  governor  ha& 
two  thoufand  pounds  flerling  per  ann.  half  of  which  is  paid 
by  the  exchequer  of  Great-Britain,  and  the  other  half  raifed 
within  the  ifland. 

The  military  force  is  a  regiment  of  infantry,  and  a  company 
of  artillery,  fent  from  England,  and  a  black  corps  raifed  in  the 
country,  but  placed  on  the  Britifh  eftablifhment,  and  provided 
for  accordingly :  there  are  befides  two  regiments  of  militia, 
which  ferve  without  pay  of  any  kind. 

The  number  of  inhabitants,  according  to  the  lafl:  return 
made  to  government,  was  one  thoufand  four  hundred  and  fifty 
whites,  and  eleven  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-three 
blacks,   flaves.* 

We  {hall  clofe  this  account  as  of  the  other  iflands,  with  a 
table  of  exports,  &c.  but  it  muft  be  remarked,  that  in  this 
table  is  comprehended  the  produce  of  feveral  fmall  iflands  de- 
pendent on  the  St.  Vincent  government.  Thefe  iflands  are 
Bequia,  Union,  Canouane,  Muflique,  Petit  Martinique,  Petit 
St.  Vincent,  Maillerau,  and  Balleicau  ;  the  whole  containing 
near  ten  thoufand  acres,  but  the  four  lafl  only  produce  a  little 
cotton, 

*  Of  thefe  negroes  there  are  on  the  dependent  ifiands  about  fixteen  hundred. 


OF  ST.  VINCENT. 


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(     278     ) 


NEVIS. 


N> 


EVIS  lies  about  feven  leagues  north  of  Montferrat,  and 
is  feparated  from  St.  Chriftopher's  by  a  narrow  channel  :  it 
makes  a  beautiful  appearance  from  the  fea,  being  a  large  conical 
mountain  covered  with  fine  trees,  of  an  eafy  afcent  on  every 
fide,  and  entirely  cultivated.  The  circumference  is  about 
twenty-one  miles,  with  a  confiderable  traft  of  level  ground  all 
around.  The  climate  in  the  lower  part  is  reckoned  to  be 
warmer  than  Barbadoes,  but  it  is  more  temperate  towards  the 
fummit.  The  foil  is  very  fine  in  the  lower  part,  but  grows 
coarfer  as  we  afcend.  The  produftions  are  nearly  the  fame 
with  thofe  of  St.  Chriftopher's,  and  the  iverage  quantity  of 
fugar  is  four  thoufand  hogfheads  of  fixteen  hundred  weight 
each.  The  ifland  is  divided  into  five  parifhes,  and  it  has  three 
pretty  good  roads  or  bays,  with  fmall  towns  in  their  vicinity  : 
Charlefton,  the  feat  of  government,  Moreton  bay,  and  New- 
caftle.  This  pleafant  ifland  was  fettled  under  the  aufpices  of 
Sir  Thomas  Warner  from  St.  Chriftopher's,  in  the  year  1628. 
His  fucceffor.  Governor  Lake,  was  ponfidered  as  the  Solon  of 
this  little  country,  in  which  he  difpofed  of  every  thing  with 
fuch  prudence,  wifdom  and  juftice,  as  procured  him  high  re- 
putation with  the  French  as  well  as  Englifh.  In  the  Dutch 
war  they  met  with  fome  diftuvbance  from  the  French,  but  by 
being  covered  by  an  Englifh  fquadron,  the  enemy  were  obliged 
to  defift  from  their  intended  invafion,  after  a  fmart  engagement 
in  fight  of  the  ifland.  Sir  William  Stapleton  fometimes  re- 
ficled  here,  and  Sir  Nathaniel  Jolmfon  conftnntly,  at  which 
time  the  inhabitants  of  Nevis  were  computed  at  thirty  thoufand. 
In  the  war  immediately  after  the  revolution  they  exerted  them- 
felves  gallantly,  and  had  two  regiments  of  three  hundred  men 
each.  In  that  of  Queen  Anne  they  behaved  equally  well, 
though  they  were  lefs  fortunate  ;  for  the  French  landing  with 
a  fuperior  force,  and  having  inveigled  moft  of  their  flaves,  they 
were  forced  to  capitulate.  About  four  thoul'and  of  th'cfe  flaves 
the  French  carried  away  and  fold  to  the  Spaniards,  to  work  in 
their    mines.      The    parliament,   after    making  due    inquiry  irjto 


0  F    N  E  V  I  S,  2fg 

i\it  ioites  they  had  fuftained,  voted  them  about  a  third  part  of 
the  fum  in  which  they  had  fufFered.  Thefe  lofles  by  war, 
an  epidemic  difeafe,  and  repeated  hurricanes,  exceedingly  di- 
minifhed  the  number  of  the  people.  They  now,  according  to 
Mr.  Edwards,  do  not  exceed  fixteen  hundred  whites  and  ten 
thoufand  blacks.  All  the  white  men,  not  exempt  by  age  and 
other  infirmities,  are  formed  into  a  militia  for  its  defence,  from 
which  there  is  a  troop  of  fifty  horfe  well  mounted ;  but  they 
have  no  troops  on  the  Britifli  eftablifhment.  The  principal 
fortification  is  at  Charlefton,  and  is  called  Charles  fort,  the 
governor  of  which  is  appointed  by  the  crown,  and  paid  by 
the  inhabitants.  There  is  here  a  lieutenant-governor,  with 
a  council  of  members,  and  an  affembly  compofed  of  three 
members  from  each  of  the  five  parifties  into  which  the  ifland 
is  divided.  The  adminiftering  of  juftice  is  under  a  chief 
juftice  and  two  afliftant  judges.  The  commodities  are  chiefly 
cotton  and  fugar ;  and  about  twenty  fail  of  fhips  are  annually 
employed  in  this  trade* 


(     aSo     ) 


MONTSERRAT. 


M( 


.ONTSERRAT    Is  a   very   frnall   but   pleafant   ifland,    fo' 
called  by    Columbus    from   its  refemblance  to  the  famous  moun- 
tain near    Barcelona   in    Catalonia.      It    lies    in   weft    longitude 
6i<*    o/,   north    latitude    16"*    15^,   having  Antigua  to  the  north- 
eaft,   St.  Chriftopher's  and  Nevis  to    the  north-weft^  and    Gua- 
daloupe    lying  fouth  fouth-eaft    at    the    diftance    or  about   nine 
leagues.      In   its  figure  it   is   nearly  round,    about  nine  miles  in 
extent    every    way,     twenty-feven     in    circumference,     and    is 
fuppofed   to  contain   about   forty  or   fifty  thoufand  acres.      The 
cliinate   is   warm,   but    lefs   fo   than  in  Antigua,   and  is  eftecmed 
very   healthy.       The    foil    is    mountainous,    but    with    pleafant 
valleys,   rich    and   fertile,   between   them  ;   the  hills  are  covered 
with  cedars  and  other  fine  trees.     Here  are  all  the  animals  as  well 
as  vegetables  and  fruits,  that  are  to  be  found  in  the  other  iflands, 
and    not  at   all    inferior  to   them    in    quality.      The  inhabitants 
raifed   formerly   a    confiderable    quantity   of  indigo,   which  was 
none  of  the  beft,  but  which  they  cut    four  times  a    year.      The 
prefent    produft    is   cotton,   rum  and    fugar.      There  is  no  good 
harbour,  but  three  tolerable   roads,  at   Plymouth,   Old    harbour, 
nnd    Ker's    bay,   where   they   fliip    the    produce    of  the    illand. 
Public  aff'airs  are  adminifteted  here  as   in   the   other   ifles,  by  a 
lieutenant-governor,  a  council  of  fix,  and  an  affembly  ccmpofed 
of  no   more   than   eight  members,   two    from   each    of  the    four 
diftrifts  into   which    it  is   divided.      Its   civil    hiftory   contains 
nothing  particular  except  its  inVafion  by    the    French   in    1712^ 
and  its  capture  by  them  again  in  the  late  war,   at  the   conclufion 
of  which    it   was    reftored    to    Great-Britain.      The    wonderful 
effefts    of  induftry    and    experience,    in    meliorating    the    gifts 
of    Nature,    have    been    no    where    more    confpicuous   than    in 
thcfe  iflands,   and  particularly  in   this,  by    gradually   improving 
their  produce,   more   efpecially   of  late    years,   fincc    the   art    of 
nlanting    has    been    reduced    to    a   regular  lyftcm,   and  almoft  all 
the  defefts  of  foil  (o   thoroughly    removed    by    proper    manage- 
ment   and    manure,   that    except    from    the    failure    of  leafons, 
or   the   want   of  hands,    there   is   feldom    any   fear  of  a    crop. 


OF    MONTSERRAT.  281 

As  far  tack  as  I770,  there  were  exported  from  this  ifland  to 
Great-Britain  one  hundred  fixty-feven  bags  of  cotton,  feven 
hundred  and  forty  hogflieads  of  rum  ;  to  Ireland  one  hundred 
and  thirty-three  ditto,  four  thoufand  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  hogfheads,  two  hundred  and  thirt)'-two  tierces,  two  hun- 
dred and  two  barrels  of  fugar  ;  the  whole  valued  at  eighty-nine 
thoufand  nine  hundred  and  feven  pounds  :  and  exports  to  North- 
America  valued  at  twelve  thoufand  fix  hundred  and  thirty-three 
povmdSi  There  are  a  few  fhips  employed  in  trading  to  this  ifland 
from  London  and  from  Briftol,  and  the  average  of  its  trade  'vvill 
be  feen  in  the  tables  annexed.  As  to  the  number  of  inhabitants, 
according  to  the  moft  probable  accounts,  they  confift  of  between 
twelve  and  fourteen  hundred  whites,  and  about  ten  thoufand 
negroes,  though  fome  fay  not  fo  many. 


O  o 


(       282       ) 


BARBUDA  AND  ANGUILLA, 


B 


ARBUDA,  which   belongs  entirely    to   the   Codrington   fa-* 
mily,   und  the  circumference  of  which  is   fix    or    feven    leagues, 
hath  dangerous  coafts.      It  is,  perhaps,  the  mofi;   even  of  all   the 
American  illands.      The  trfecs   which   cover  it  are  weak,   and  not 
very  high,  becaufe  there  are  never  more  than  fix  or  (even  inches 
of  earth  upon  a  layer  of  lime-Ilone.      Nature   hath    placed    great 
plenty  of  turtles  here  ;  and    caprice  hath  occationed  the  fending 
thither  of  deer  and  feveral  kinds  of  game  ;   chance  hatli  filled  the 
woods  with  pintados  and  other  fowls,   efcaped   from   the    velfels 
after  fome  fliipwreirk.     Upon  this  foil  are   fed    oxen,  horfes  and 
mule?,  for    the    labours   of   the   neighbouring    fettlements.     No 
other  culture  is  known    there,  except    tliat  of  the  kind  of  corn 
which  is  necefi'ary   for  the    feeding   of  the   numerous   herds   in 
thole  feafons  when  the  pafture  fails.     Its  population   is    reduced 
to  three  hundred  and  fifty  flaVes,  and  to  the  fmall  number  of  free 
men  who   are    appointed  to   overlook  them.     This   private   pro- 
porty  pays  no  tribute  to  the  nation,  though  it  be  fubjeft  to   the 
tribunals  of  Antigua.     The  air  here  is  very  pure  and  very  whole- 
lome.      Formeilv,   the  fickly  people  of  the  other   Englifli  iflands 
went  to  breathe  it,   in  order  to  flop  the  progrefs  of  their  difeafes, 
or    to   recover    their    flrengfh.      This    cuflom   hath   ceafcd,   fincc 
iome   of    them    indulged    themfelves    in    parties    of    deftruftive 
chnce. 

Muft  men  then  be  fufFcred  to  pcrifh,  in  order  that  animals 
fliould  be  prelerved  ?  How  is  it,  poffible,  that  fo  atrocfous  a 
cullom,  wliich  draws  down  the  imprecation  of  almoft  all  Europe 
upon  the  fovereigns  and  upon  the  lords  of  its  coiantries,  Ihould 
be  fuffered,  and  ihould  even  be  eflabliHied  beyond  the  leas  ?  We 
have  aflced  tiiis  queftion,  and  we  have  been  anlwered,  that  the 
idand  belonged  to  the  Codringtons,  and  that  they  had  a  right  to 
dilpole  of  their  property  at  their  pleaiure.  We  now  afl;.,  whe- 
tlier  this  right  of  property,  which  is  undoubtedly  facred,  hath 
not  its  limits  ?  Whether  this  right,  in  a  variety  of  circumftanccs, 
be  not  lacrificed  to  public  good  ?  Whether  the  man  who  is  in 
poffellion  of  a  fountain   can   reful'e  water  to  him  who   is  dying 


0  F    BARBUDA    AND    ANGUILLA.  285 

with  thirfl:  ?  "Whether  any  of  the  Codrington  family  would  par- 
take of  one  of  thofe  precious  pintados,  that  had  coft  his  coun- 
tryman or  his  fellow-creature  his  life  ?  Whether  the  man  who 
fiiould  be  convifted  of  having  fuffered  a  fick  perfon  to  die  at 
his  door,  would  be  fufficiently  puniflied  by  the  general  execra- 
tion ?  And  whether  he  would  not  deferve  to  be  dragged  before 
the  tribunals  of  juflice  as  an  aflaffin  ? 

Anguilla  is  feven  or  eight  leagues  in  length,  and  is  very  un- 
equal in  its  breadth,  which  never  exceeds  two  leagues.  Neither 
mountains,  nor  woods,  nor  rivers,  are  found  upon  it,  and  its  foil 
is  nothing  more  than  chalk. 

Some  wandering  Englifhmen  fettled  upon  this  porous  and 
friable  rock  towards  the  year  1650.  After  an  obfhinate  labour, 
they  at  length  fucceeded  in  obtaining  from  this  kind  of  tuif  a 
little  cotton,  a  fmall  quantity  of  millet  feed,  and  fome  potatoes. 
Six  veins  of  vegetating  earth,  which  were  in  procels  of  time 
difcovered,  leceived  fugar-canes,  which,  in  the  beft  hraveft, 
yield  no  more  than  fifty  thouland  weight  of  fugar,  and  fometimes 
only  five  or  fix  thoufand.  Whatever  elfe  comes  out  of  the 
colony  hath  been  introduced  into  it  clandeftinely  from  Santa 
Cruz,  where  the  inhabitants  of  Anguilla  have  formed  feveral 
plantations. 

In  feafons  of  drought,  which  are  but  too  frequent,  the  ifland 
hath  no  other  refource  but  in  a  lake,  the  fait  of  which  is  fold  to 
the  people  of  New-England;  and  in  the  fale  of  flieep  and  goats, 
which  thrive  better  in  this  dry  climate,  and  upon  thefe  arid 
plains,  than  in  the  reft,  of  America. 

Anguilla  reckons  no  more  than  two  hundred  free  inhabitants, 
and  five  hundred  flaves  :  nevertheleis  it  hath  an  affembly  of  its 
own,  and  even  a  chief,  who  is  always  chofen  by  the  inhabitants, 
and  confirmed  by  the  governor  of  Antigua.  A  foreigner,  who 
Ihould  be  fent  to  govern  this  feeble  fettlement,  would  infallibly 
be  driven  away,  by  men  who  have  preferved  fomething  of  the 
independent  manners,  and  of  the  rather  fuvage  charafter  of  their 
anceftors. 

The  coaft  of  this  ifland  affords  but  two  harbours,  and  even  in 
thefe  very  Imall  veffels  only  can  anchor  :  they  are  both  defended 
by  four  pieces  of  cannon,  which,  for  half  a  century  paft,  have 
been  entirely  unfit  for  fervice. 


O  o  3 


(     284     ) 


BERMUDAS,  or  SOMMER's 
ISLANDS. 


JL  HIS  duller  of  iflands  lies  almofr.  in  the  form  of  a  fliepherd's 
crook,  in  weft  longitude  65°,  north  latitvide  32*^  30',  between 
two  and  three  hundred  leagues  diftant  from  the  neareft  place  of 
the  continent  of  America,  or  of  any  of  the  other  Weft-India 
iflands.  The  whole  number  of  the  Bermudas  iflands  is  faid  to 
be  about  four  hundred,  but  very  few  of  them  are  habitable. 
The  principal  is  St.  George's,  which  is  not  above  flxteen  miles 
long,  and  three  at  moft  in  breadth.  It  is  univerfally  agreed,  that 
the  nature  of  this  and  the  other  Bermudas  iflands  has  undergone 
a  furpvifing  alteration  for  the  worfe,  fince  they  were  firft  difco- 
vered  ;  the  air  being  much  more  inclement,  and  the  ibil  much 
more  barren  than  formerly  :  this  is  afcribed  to  the  cutting  down 
thole  fine  fpreading  cedar  trees  for  which  the  iflands  were  far 
'incus,  and  which  fheltered  them  from  the  blafts  of  the  north 
wind,  at  the  fame  time  that  it  protefted  the  under-growlh  of  the 
delicatt-  plants  and  herbs.  In  fliort,  the  Somrner  iflands  are  now 
far  from  being  deflrable  fpots  j  and  their  natural  produ£lions  are 
but  juft  fufficient  for  the  fupport  of  the  inhabitants,  who  chiefly, 
for  that  realon  perhaps,  are  temperate  and  lively  even  to  a  pro- 
verb. At  firft  tobacco  was  raifed  upon  thefe  iflands,  but  being 
of  a  worfe  quality  than  that  growing  on  the  continent,  the  trade 
is  now  almoit  at  an  end.  Large  quantities  of  ambergris  were 
alfo  originally  found  upon  the  coafts,  and  afForded  a  valuable 
commerce  ;  but  that  trade  is  alio  reduced,  as  likewife  their 
whale  trade,  thoug,h  the  perquifites  upon  the  latter  foim  part  of 
the  governor's  revenue,  he  having  ten  pounds  for  every  whale 
that  is  caught.  The  Bermudas  iflunds,  however,  might  ftiU 
produce  fome  valuable  commodities,  were  they  properly 
cultivated.  Tliere  is  here  found,  about  three  or  four  feet 
below  the  furface,  a  white  cljalk  ftone  which  is  eafily  chi- 
felled,  and  is  exported  for  building  gentlemen's  houles  in 
the  Wsil-Indics.     Their  palmelto  leave?,  if  properly  manufag- 


OF  THE  BERMUDAS,  285 

tured,  might  turn  to  excellent  account  in  making  women's  hats  ; 
and  their  oranges  are  ftill  valuable.  Their  Toil  is  alio  laid  to  be 
excellent  for  the  cultivation  of  vines,  and  it  has  been  thought 
that  filk  and  cochineal  might  be  produced  ;  but  none  of  thefe 
things  have  yet  been  attempted.  The  chief  refource  of  the 
inhabitants  for  fubfiflence  is  in  the  remains  of  their  cedar-wood, 
of  which  they  fabricate  fmall  floops,  with  the  afTiftance  of  the 
New-England  pine,  and  fell  many  of  them  to  the  American 
colonies,  where  they  are  much  admired.  Their  turtle-catching 
trade  is  alio  of  fervice  ;  and  they  are  ftill  able  to  rear  great 
variety  of  tame-fowl,  and  have  wild  ones  abounding  in  vaft 
plenty.  All  the  attempts  to  eftablilh  a  regular  whale  .fifhery 
on  thefe  iflands  have  hitherto  proved  unfuccefsful ;  they  have 
no  cattle,  and  even  the  black  hog  breed,  which  was  probably 
left  by  the  Spaniards,  is  greatly  decreafed.  The  water  on  the 
iflands,  except  that  which  falls  from  the  clouds,  is  brackifh  ; 
arid  at  prefent  the  fame  difeafes  reigrl  there  as  in  the  Caribbee 
iflands.  They  have  feldom  any  fnow,  or  even  much  rain  :  but 
when  it  does  fall,  it  is  generally  with  great  violence,  and  the 
north  or  north-eaft:  wind  renders  the  air  very  cold.  The  ftorms 
generally  come  with  the  new  moon ;  and  if  there  is  a  halo 
or  circle  about  it,  it  is  a  fure  fign  of  a  tempefl:,  which  is 
generally  attended  with  dreadful  thunder  and  lightning.  The 
inhabited  parts  of  the  Bermudas  iflands  are  divided  into  nine 
diflrifts,  called  tribes,  1.  St.  George.  2.  Hamilton.  3.  Ire- 
land. 4.  Devonfhire.  5.  Pembroke.  6.  Pagets.  7.  Warwick. 
8.  Southaiftpton.  g.  Sandys,  There  are  but  two  places  on 
the  large  ifland  where  a  fliip  can  fafely  come  near  the  fliore, 
and  thefe  are  fo  well  covered  with  high  rocks,  that  few  will 
chufe  to  enter  in  without  a  pilot :  and  they  are  fo  well  defended 
by  forts,  that  they  have  no  occafion  to  dread  an  enemy.  St. 
George's  town  is  at  the  bottom  of  the  principal  haven,  and 
is  defended  by  nine  forts,  on  which  are  mounted  fevcnty 
pieces  of  cannon  that  command  the  entrance.  The  town  has 
a  handfome  church,  a  fine  library,  and  a  noble  town-houle, 
where  the  governor,  council,  &c.  alTemble.  The  tribes  of 
Southampton  and  Devonfliire  have  each  a  parifh  church  and 
library,  and  the  former  has  a  harbour  of  the  fame  name  ;  there 
'are  alio  fcattered  houfes  and  hamlets  over  many  of  the  iflands, 
where  particular  plantations  requiie  them.  The  inhabitants 
are  clothed  chiefly  with  Britifh  manufaftures,  and  all  their 
implements  for  tilling  the  grour+d  and  building  are  made  in 
3ritain, 


2S6  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

It  is  uncertain  who  were  the  firft  difcoverers  of  the  Bermu- 
das iflands.  Jo^i"  Bermudas,  a  Spaniard,  is  commonly  iaid 
to  have  difcovered  tliem  in  1527  ;  but  this  is  dilputed,  and 
the  difcovery  attributed  to  Henry  May,  an  Engliftiman.  As 
the  iflands  were  without  the  reach  of  the  Indian  navigation, 
the  Bermudas  were  abfolutely  uninhabited  when  firft  difcovered 
by  the  Europeans.  May  above-mentioned  was  fl^ipwrecked 
upon  St.  George's,  and  with  the  cedar  which  they  felled  there, 
aflTifted  by  the  wreck  of  their  own  ihip,  he  and  his  companions 
built  another  which  carried  them  to  Europe,  where  they  pub- 
lUhed  their  accounts  of  the  iflands.  When  Lord  Delawar 
was  governor  of  Virginia,  Sir  Thomas  Gates,  Sir  George 
Sommers,  and  Captain  Newport,  were  appointed  to  be  his 
deputy-governors  ;  but  their  fliip  being  feparated  by  a  florm 
from  the  reft  of  the  fquadron,  was  in  the  year  1609  wrecked 
on  the  Bermudas,  and  the  governors  difagreeing  among  them- 
felves,  built  each  of  them  a  new  fhip  of  the  cedar  they  found 
there,  in  which  they  fevcrally  failed  to  Virginia.  On  their 
arrival  there,  the  colony  was  in  fuch  diflrefs,  that  Lord  Dela- 
war, upon  the  report  which  his  deputy-governors  made  him 
of  the  plenty  they  found  at  the  Bermudas,  dilpatchcd  Sir 
George  Sommers  to  bring  provifions  from  thence  to  Virginia, 
in  the  fame  fhip  which  brought  him  from  Bermudas,  and 
which  had  not  an  ounce  of  iron  about  it  except  one  bolt  in 
the  keel.  Sir  George,  after  a  tedious  voyage,  at  laft  reached 
the  plaee  of  his  deflination,  where,  foon  after  his  arrival,  he 
died,  leaving  his  name  to  the  iflands,  and  his  orders  to  the  crew 
to  return  with  black  hogs  to  the  colony  of  Virginia.  This 
part  of  his  will,  howevei,  the  failors  did  not  chule  to  execute, 
but  fetting  fail  in  their  cedar  fiiip  for  England,  landed  fafely  at 
Whitchurch  in  Dorfetfhire. 

NotwithRanding  this  derelitlion  of  the  illand,  however,  it 
was  not  without  Englifh  inhabitants.  Two  failors.  Carter  and 
Waters,  being  apprehenfive  of  punifliment  for  their  crimes, 
had  fecreted  themfelves  from  their  fellows  when  Sir  George 
was  wrecked  upon  the  iflund,  and  had  ever  fince  lived  upon 
the  natural  productions  of  the  fotl.  Upon  the  fecond  arrival 
of  Sir  George,  they  enticed  one  Chard  to  remain  with  tliem  ; 
but  differing  about  the  fovereignty  of  the  ifland.  Chard  and 
Waters  were  on  the  point  of  cutting  one  another's  throats, 
when  they  were  prevented  by  the  prudence  of  Caiter.  Soon 
after,  they  had  the  good  fortune  to  find  a  great  piece  of  amber- 
gris weighing  about  eighty  pounds,  befides  other  pieces,  which 
in  thofc   days   were   fuiiicicr.i,  if  propeily  dilpoiVc!    of,  to  have 


OF  THE  BERMUDAS.  287 

ttiade  each  of  them  mafter  of  a  large  eflate.     Where  they  were, 
this  ambergris  was  ufelefs,  and   therefore  they  came  to  the    del- 
peratc   refoKition    of    carrying   themfelves    and    it    in    an    open 
boat   to   Virffinia    or    to    Newfoundland,   where    they    hoped  to 
difpofe   of  their  treafure  to  advantage.      In  the  mean  time,  how- 
ever     the    Virginia    company    claimed     the     property     of     the 
Bermudas  iflands,  and  accordingly  fold    it   to  one    h  indred   and 
twenty  perfons   of  their    own    lociety,  who   obtained   a   charter 
from    King    James   for    poiTefTing    it.      This  new  Bermudas  com- 
pany, as  it   was  called,  fitted  out  a  fhip   with  fixty  planters  on 
board   to  fettle   on    the    Bermudas,  under   the    command  of  one 
Mr.    Richard     Moor,    by     profefTion    a    carpenter.      The    new 
colony    arrived  upon  the    ifland  jult  at  the  time  the  three  failors 
were  about  to   depart    with  their  ambergris  ;  which   Moor  hav- 
ing   difcovered,   he    immediately    feized   and   difpofed   of  it    for 
the  benefit    of    the  company.     So    valuable   a   booty   gave    vaft 
fpirit  to  the  new    company;  and   the  adventurers   fettled   them- 
felves upon    St.  George's  ifland,  where  t?iey   raifed  cabins.     As 
to   Mr.  Moor,    he    was   indefatigable    in    his  duty,  and   carried 
on  the  fortifying  and  planting    the  ifland   with   incredible    dili- 
gence ;  for   we   are    told,  that    he    not  only   built    eight  or   nine 
forts,  or  rather  blockhoufes,  but    inured  the    fcttlers   to  martial 
difcipline.     Before   the   firft    year   of  his  government    was   ex- 
pired, Mr.  Moor  received   a   fupply  of  provifions  and  planters 
from    England,  and   he    planned   out  the  town  of  St.  George  as 
it    now    tlands.       The    fame   of  this    fettlcment    foon    aM'akened 
the   iealoufy    of  the   Spaniards,  who  appeared   off  St.  George's 
with    fome   veffels  ;    but    being    fii'ed    upon    by    the   forts,  they 
fheered  off  though  the  Englifii  at  that  time  were  fo  ill  provided 
for  a  defence,  that  they  had  Icarce  a  fingle  barrel  of  gunpowder 
on  the  idmd.      During  Moor's  government,  the   Bermudas  were 
plagued    with    rats,     which    had    been    imported    into   them   by 
the    Englifii    fliips.       Thefe    vermin    multiplied    fo    faft    in    St, 
George's  ifland,  that  they   even    covered   the   ground,  and   had 
ncfts   in    the    treej.     They    deilroyed    all    the    fruits   and    corn 
within    doors  ;   nay,   they    increafed   to   fuch   a    degree,  that    St. 
George's  ifland   was  at   lafl    unable   to  maintain  tjiem,  and  they 
fwam    over   to    the   neighbouring    iflands,  where    they    made  as 
great    havoc.        This   calamity     lafled    five    years,     though    pro- 
bably   not   in    tlie    fame    degree,    and   at   lafl  it    ceafed  all   of  a 
fudden. 

On  the  expiration  of  Mooi's  government,  he  was  fucceeded 
by  Captain  Daniel  Tucker,  who  improved  all  his  predeceffbr'^s 
fchemes  for  the   benefit   of  the    ifland,  and    particularly    encou- 


9.88  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

raged  the  culture  of  tobacco.  Being  a  fevere  difciplinarian,  ih« 
held  all  under  him  fo  rigidly  to  duty,  that  five  of  his  fubjefts 
planned  as  bold  an  enterprife  for  liberty  as  was  perhaps  ever 
put  in  execution.  Their  names  were  Barker,  who  is  faid  to 
have  been  a  gentleman  ;  another  Barker,  a  joiner  ;  Goodwin,  a 
fhip-carpenter ;  Pact,  a  failor  j  and  Saunders,  who  planned  the 
enterprife.  ■  Their  management  was  as  artful  as  their  defign 
was  bold.  Underftanding  that  the  governor  was  deterred  from 
taking  the  pleafure  of  fiftiing  in  an  open  boat,  on  account  of 
the  dangers  attending  it,  they  propofed  to  build  him  one  of  a 
particular  conftruftion,  which  accordingly  they  did  in  a  fecret 
part  of  the  ifland  ;  but  when  the  governor  came  to  view  his 
boat,  he  underflood  that  the  builders  had  put  to  fea  in  it.  The 
intelligence  was  true  ;  for  the  adventurers  having  provided 
themfelves  with  the  few  neceffaries  they  wantedj  failed  for 
England  ;  and  notwithftanding  the  ftorms  they  encountered^ 
their  being  plundered  by  a  French  privateer,  and  the  incredible 
miferies  they  underwent,  they  landed  in  forty-two  days  time 
at  Corke  in  Ireland,  where  they  were  generoufly  relieved  and 
entertained  by  the  Earl  of  Thomond. 

In  1619,  Captain  Tucker  refigned  his  government  to  Cap-» 
tain  Butler.  By  this  time  the  high  charafter  which  the  Sommer 
iQands  bore  in  England,  rendered  it  fafhionable  for  men  of  the 
higheft  rank  to  encourage  their  fettlement  ;  and  feveral  of 
the  firft  nobility  of  England  had  purchafed  plantations  among 
them.  Captain  Butler  brought  over  with  him  five  hundred 
paflengers,  who  became  planters  on  the  iflands,  and  railed  a 
moniUBrient  to  the  memory  of  Sir  George  Sommers.  The  ifland 
was  now  fo  populous,  for  it  contained  about  a  thoufand  whites, 
that  Captain  Butler  applied  himfelf  to  give  it  a  new  conftitution 
of  government,  by  introducing  an  aflembly,  the  government 
till  this  time  being  adminiflered  only  in  the  name  of  the 
governor  and  council.  A  body  of  laws  was  likewife  drawn 
up,  as  agreeable  to  the  laws  of  England  as  the  fituation  of  the 
ifland  would  admit  of.  One  Mr.  Barnard  fucceeded  Captain 
Butler  as  governor,  but  died  in  fix  weeks  after  his  arrival  on 
the  ifland  ;  upon  which  the  council  made  choice  of  Mr.  Harri- 
fon  to  be  governor  till  a  new  one  fhould  be  appointed.  No 
fewer  than   three  thoufand   Enfflifh    were   now    fettled   in    the 

o 

Bermudas,  and  feveral  perfons  of  difl:in£l:ion  had  curiofity 
enough  to  vifit  it  from  England.  Among  thefe  was  Mr,  Waller 
the  poet,  a  man  of  fortune,  who  being  embroiled  with  the 
parliament  and  commonwealth  of  England,  fpent  fome  months 
in  the   Sommer  iflands.   which   he  has   celebrated  in  one    of  his 


OF  THE  BERMUDAS,  aS^ 

poems  as  the  mod  delightful  place  in  the  world.  The  dangers 
attending  the  navigation,  and  the  untowardly  fituation  of  thefe 
iflands,  through  their  diftance  from  the  American  continent, 
feem  to  be  the  reaion  why  the  Bermudas  did  not  now  become 
the  beil  peopled  iflands  belonging  to  England  ;  as  we  are  told 
that  at  one  period  they  were  inhabited  by  no  fewer  than  ten 
thoufand  whites.  The  inhabitants,  however,  never  fhowed 
any  great  fpirit  for  commerce,  and  thus  they  never  could 
become  rich.  This,  together  with  the  gradual  alteration 
of  the  foil  and  climate,  already  taken  notice  of,  foon  caufed 
them  to  dwindle  in  their  population  ;  and  it  is  computed  that 
they  do  not  now  contain  above  half  the  number  of  inhabitants 
they  once  did,  and  even  thefe  feem  much  more  inclined  to 
remove  to  fome  other  place  than  to  flay  where  they  are  :  fo 
that  unlefs  fome  beneficial  branch  of  commerce  be  found  out, 
or  fome  ufeful  manufafture  eftabliflied,  the  flate  of  the  Bermu- 
das  muft  daily    grow    worfe    and    worfe. 

The  following  account  we  have  extrafted  from  Mr.  Morfe, 
as  he  profeffes  to  have  given  it  on  the  authority  of  a  gentleman 
who  refided  many    years   on   the   ipot  : 

*'  The  parifh  of  St.  George's  is  an  iflund  to  the  eafliward 
of  the  main  land,  on  which  flands  the  town  of  St.  George's, 
containing  about  five  hundred  houfes.  Contiguous  to  this  is 
the  ifland  of  St.  David's,  which  fupplies  the  town  with  butter, 
milk,  vegetables,  poultry,  and  frefh  meat.  In  the  bofom  of 
the  crook  lie  a  vail  number  of  fmall  iflands,  uninhabited.  The 
ifland  is  rocky,  and  the  ground  hilly.  In  the  main  road  a  ful- 
ky  may  pafs  ;  and  even  there,  in  many  places,  with  difficulty  ; 
but  turn  to  the  right  or  left,  and  it  is  pafl'able  only  on  horfe- 
back.  The  air  is  healthy  ;  a  continual  fpring  prevails:  cedars, 
mantled  in  green,  always  adorn  the  hills  :  the  pafture  ground 
is  ever  verdant  ;  the  gardens  ever  in  bloom.  Mod  of  the  pro- 
ductions of  the  Well-Indies  might  be  here  cultivated.  The 
houfes  are  built  of  a  foft  ftone,  which  is  fawn  like  timber  ;  when 
expofed  to  the  whether,  and  wafhed  with  lime,  it  becomes  hard. 
The  houfes  are  white  as  fnow,  which,  beheld  from  an  eminence, 
contrafled  with  the  greennefs  of  the  cedars  and  psfhure  ground, 
and  the  multitude  of  iflands,  full  in  view,  realize  what  the 
poets  have  feigned  concerning  the  Elyfian  fields.  The  inha- 
bitants are  numerous  ;  the  whole  ifland  is  a  continued  village  ; 
no  lefs,  perhaps,  than  fifteen  or  twenty  thoufand  are  col- 
Ie£lcd  on  this,  fmall  fpot,  of  whom  the  blacks  confliiutc  two 
thirds.  Happy  for  the  country,  were  the  colour  unknown 
among  them!      The   Bermudians    are  chiefly    fcafaring  people  ; 

Pp 


S9»  GENERAL  DESCRIFTIOJ^ 

f«w   of  the  men  are  ever  at  home  ;  three  or  four  hundred  go  ati-: 
nually  to  Turk's  ifland  to  rake  fait,  which  is  carried  to  Americaf 
for  provifionSj  or  fold  to  fuch  as  may  call  at  Turk's  idand  for 
cafli.     However  induflrious  the  men  are  abroad,  at  home  they 
are  indolent  •,  much  given,  perticularly^of  late,  to  gambling  and 
luxury.      The  women  are  generally  handfome  and  comely;  they 
love  th«ir  hufliands,  thefr  children,  and  their  drefs.      Dancing 
h  their  favourite  amufement.^^     The  men  muft  be  equipped  iit 
tafte  when  they  appear  in  company,  fhould  they  not  have  a  dol- 
lar in  the  pound  to  pay  their  creditors  ;  the  women  muft  array 
thcmfelvcs  like  thebeMesof  Paris,  fhould  they  not  haveamorlel 
of  bread  to  preferve  their  blooming  completion.      They  are  tho- 
roughly acquainted  with  one  another's  families,   and   from  their 
tea  table,  as  from  their  atmofphere,  arifes  conftant  guf^s  of  fcan- 
dal    and  detraftion.     To  ftrangers  they  are   kind,   but    among 
themfelves  arc   quarrelfome :   their   friendly  intercourfe    is  too 
much   confined    within  a  narrow     circle,    bounded  by  coufins 
or  fecond  coufins. 

•'  The  conrrmon  food  of  the  Bermudians  is  cofFee,  fifh  of  dlffe- 
rtnt  kinds,  a  fweet  potatoe,  Indian  corn,  arrd  American  flour. 
Their  water  is  rain  prefervcd  in  cifterns;  the  general  drink 
is  grog.  Fiuiing  ii  the  favourite  amufement  of  the  men. 
The  government  is  conduced  under  a  governor  named  by  the 
crown  of  England,  a  council  and  general  alTembly.  The 
cflablifhed  religion  is  epifcopacy.  There  are  nine  churches; 
three  clergymen  have  the  charge  of  thefe  nine :  there  is  one 
?refbyterian  church.  A  regard  for  religion  is  not  the  charac- 
teriftic  of  the  Bermudians  ;  they  feldom  go  to  church,  ex- 
cept it  be  to  attend  a  funeral,  or  to  get  their  children  baptized, 
6r  to  hear  a  ftranger." 

We  fhall  clofe  this  account  of  the  Bermudas  with  the  fol- 
lowing extraft  from  the  report  of  the  privy  council  on  the 
ilave  trade  ; 

*'  Nothing  can  better  fliew  the  ftate  of  flavery  in  Bermudas 
than  the  behaviour  of  the  blacks  in  the  late  war.  There  were 
at  one  time  between  fifteen  and  twenty  privateers  fitted  out 
from  hence,  which  were  partly  manned  by  negro  flaves,  who 
behaved  both  as  failors  and  marines  irreproachably;  and  when- 
ever they  were  captured,  always  returned  if  it  was  in  their 
power.  There  w6re  feveral  inftances  wherein  they  had  been 
condemned  with  the  vedlel  and  fold,  and  afterwards  found 
means  to  efcape  ;  and  through  many  difHculties  and  hardfhips 
returned   to  their  maflers  fervice.     In   the  fhip    Regulator,  a 


OF  THE  BERMUDAS.  291 

•pvivatecrj  there  were  feventy  flave«.  She  was  taken  and  car- 
ded into  Boflon;  fixty  of  them  returned  in  a  flag  of  truce  di- 
re£lly  to  Bermudas ;  nine  others  returned  by  the  way  of  New- 
York  ;  one  only  was  mifiing,  who  died  in  the  cruize,  or  iu 
captivity.'* 

LUC  AY'S,  OR  BAHAMA  ISLANDS. 

The  Bahamas  are  fituated  between  22*  and  27^  degree* 
north  latitude,  and  ^3*^  and  81/ degrees  weft  longitude.  They 
extend  along  the  coaft  of  Florida  quite  down  to  Cuba,  and 
are  faid  to  be  five  hundred  in  number,,  fome  of  them  only  rocks, 
but  twelve  of  them  are  large  and  fertile  ;  ail  are,  however,  un- 
inhabited, except  Providence,  which  is  tWQ  hundred  miles  eafl 
of  the  Floridas  ;  though  fome  others  are  larger  and  nior^  fertile* 
and  on  which  the  Englifh  have  plantations, 

Thefe  iflands  were  the  firft  fruits  of  Columbus's  difcov/tries ; 
but  they  were  not  known  to  the  Englifh  till  1667.  The 
ille  of  Providence  became  an  harbour  for  the  buccaneers,  or 
pirates,  who  for  a  long  time  infefted  the  American  navigation. 
This  obliged  the  government,  in  171^,  to  fend  out  Captain 
Woodes  Rogers  with  a  fleet  to  diflodge  the  pirates,  and  for 
making  a  fettlement.  This  the  captain  effefied ;  a  fort  was 
erefted,  and  an  independent  company  was  flationed  in  the 
ifland.  Ever  fince  this  lafi;  fettlement^  thefe  iflands  have  been 
improving,  though  they  advance  but  fiowly.  In  time  of  war 
the  inhabitanrts,  as  well  as  others,  gain  by  the  prizes  condemned 
there,  and  at  all  times  by  the  wrecks  which  are  frequent 
in  this  labyrinth  of  rocks  and  fhelves.  The  Spaniards  and 
Americans  captured  thefe  iflands  during  the  laft  war,  but  they 
^were  retaken  on  the  7th  of  April,    1783. 


..<..«.,<..<..<^»..y,.>..>">--iS 


BESIDES  the  above  enumerated,  Great-Britain  poffeffes  part 
.of  a  clufter  of  iflands  called  the  Virgin  iflands,  of  which  there 
is  but  little  authentic  intelligence  extant.  Mr.  E'dwards  obferves 
fefpefting  them,  that  if  his  enquiries  ^yere  not  negle£led, 
fci§   cxpeftations    were  not  anfwered.     They  were  difcovered 


292  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

and  named  by  Cclumbus,  but  the  Spaniards  of  thofc  da}^* 
deemed  them  un'vorthy  of  their  attention.  They  are  about 
forty  in  number,  whereof  the  EngliRi  hold  Tortoh,  Virgin 
.Gorda,  or  Penifton,  Jofvan  Dykes,  Guana  iflc,  Beef  and  Thatch 
iflands,  Anegada,  Nechar,  Prickly  Pear,  Camana's,  Ginger, 
Cooper's,  Salt,  and  Peter's  ifland,  with  feme  other  of  no  value, 
Tortola  is  the  principal,  it  was  originally  peopled  by  Dutch 
buccaneers,  who  were  afterwards  driven  from  thence  by  a 
party  of  Englifbrr.en  of  the  fame  defcription.  The  chief  merit 
of  its  improvement  refts  with  a  party  of  Englifh  fettlers  from 
Anguilla,  who  about  the  year  1690,  embarked  from  thence 
and  took  up  their  refidence  in  thele  iflands  ;  here  they  formed 
themfelves  into  a  fociety,  their  wants  were  few  and  their  go- 
vernment fimple  and  unexpenfive  ;  a  council  chofen  from 
among  themfelves,  v/ith  a  prefident,  exercifed  both  a  legif- 
lative  and  judicial  authority,  determining  all  queflions  and 
appeals,  without  expenle'  to  either  party.  Taxes  there  were 
none,  when  money  was  wanting  it  was  raifed  by  voluntary 
contribution.  Lured  by  the  profpefts  of  European  intercourfe, 
they,  however,  purchafed  in  1773,  the  privilege  of  being 
the  SUBJECTS  cf  the  king  of  Great-Britain,  at  the  price  of 
four  and  a  half  per  cent,  on  all  their  produce,  and  four 
hundred  pounds  currency  per  annum  toward  the  falary  of 
the  governor-general  of  the  Leeward  iflands.  Thus  does 
man,  unacquainted  with  his  native  rights  and  privileges,  under 
the  power  of  prejudice,  purchafe  of  his  fellow  creature  the 
right  to  enjoy  what  God  and  Nature  had  made  his  own.  Pof- 
tcrity,  however,  better  acquainted  with  the  rights  of  man, 
will  perhaps  not  only  difpute  the  validity  of  a£ls  of  this  kind, 
but  cancel  contrajEis  which  their  forefathers  had  no  right  to  make. 
The  number  of  inhabitants  on  thefe  iflands  at  the  period 
above  referred  to,  was  about  fifteen  hundred  whites,  and 
feven  thouland  blacks,  Jt  is  fuppofed  the  white  inhabitants 
do  not  exceed  one  ihoufand,  while  the  blacks  are  at  leafl  ten 
thoufand.  In  1787,  there  Vv'as  exported  from  thefe  iflands, 
in  forty  fnips  of  fix  thoufand  five  hundred  and  fixteen  tons, 
Icventy-nine  thoufand  two  hundred  and  tliree,  hundred  weight 
of  fugar  ;  twenty-ore  thoufand  four  hundred  and  fevcn- 
teen  gallons  of  rum  ;  two  thoufand  and  eleven  gallons  of  mo- 
lalTcs  •,  two  hundred  and  eighty-nine  thouland  and  feventy-four 
pounds  of  cotton  ;  t'ying  goods  to  the  value  of  fix  thoufand 
fix  hundred  and  fifty-onc  pounds  two  fhillings  and  fix-pence, 
and  other  mifcellaneous  articles   to  the  value  of  two   thoufari4 


OF  THE  BERMUDAS.  293 

three  hundred  and  forty  pounds  eighteen  {hillings  and  five- 
pence.  But  thefe,  like  moft  of  the  other  iflands,  are  on  the 
decline. 

With  the  following  tables,  which  we  conceive  will  aitorcj 
a  comprehenfive  view  of  the  Weft-India  trade,  wc  ihajl  clofe 
Pur  account  of  the    Britifh  iflands, 


294 


GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 


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C    ^97    ) 


SPANISH  WEST- INDIES. 


— ^  ^••<"<«»4^  ^  »^4»>"V.>..^-i 


CUBA. 


c 


'UBA  is  a  large  and  very  valuable  ifland,  and  by  far  the 
moft   important  of  all  the   Spanifh    Weft-Indies.      On   the   eaft 
fide  it    begins  at   20*    2.1^  north    latitude,  touches   the  tropic 
of  Cancer   on    the  north,  and  extends    from    74*?   to  85^    15' 
weft    longitude*      It  lies  fixty  miles  to  the  weft  of  Hifpaniola, 
twenty-five  leagues   north   of  Jamaica,    one  hundred    miles    to 
the  eaft  of  Jucatan,  and  as  many  to  the  fouth   of  cape  Florida, 
and    commands   the    entrance    of  the   gulphs    both    of  Mexico 
and  Florida,  as  alfo    the   windward  palTagei.     By   this  fituation 
it  may  be  called  the  key  of  the  Weft-Indies.      It  was  difcover- 
ed  by  Columbus  in  1492,  who  gave  it  the  name  of  Ferdinando, 
in  honour  of  king    Ferdinand  of  Spain,  but  it  quickly   after 
recovered   its    ancient   name    of    Cuba.      The   natives  did  not 
regard  Columbus   with   a   very  favourable    eye   at    his   landing, 
and  the    weather    proving  very  tempeftuous,  he    foon  left  this 
ifland,  and  failed   to    Kayta,   now    called  Hifpaniola,   where    he 
was   better   received.      The    Spaniards,   however,   fbon    became 
mafters   of  it.      By  the  year    1511,   it    was   totally    conquered, 
and  in   that  time    they  had  deftroyed,   according  to    their  own- 
accounts,   feveral    millions   of  people.       But   the    poiTefriorl    of 
Cuba  was   far  from    anfwering   the  expeftationS  of  the  Spanifh 
adventurers,     whofe    avarice    could   be    fatiated    with    nothing 
but   gold.      Thefe  monfters  finding  that   there   was    gold    upon 
the  ifland,  concluded  that  it  muft  come  from  mines,  and  there- 
fore   tortured    the     few    inhabitants     they     had     left,    in     or- 
der   to   extort     from    them    a    diicovery  of    the    places    where 
thcle  mines  lay.     The    miCeries  endured    by  thefc    poor    crea- 


OF    CUBA.  297 

iiireS  Were  fuch,  that  they  almofl  unanimoufly  rcfolved  to  put  an 
end  to  their  own  lives,  but  were  prevented  by  one  of  the  Spa- 
nifh  tyrants  called  Vafco  Porcelloj,  This  wretch  threatened  to 
hang  himfelf  along  with  them,  that  he  might  have  the  plealure, 
as  he  (aid,  of  tormenting  them  in  the  next  world  worfe  than  he 
had  done  iri  this  ;  and  lo  much  were  they  afraid  of  the  Spa- 
niards, that  this  threat  diverted  thcle  poor  iavages  from  their 
defperate  rclolution.  In  1511,  the  town  of  Havannah  was  bu}lt, 
now  the  principal  place  on  the  ifland.  The  houfes  were  at  firft 
built  only  of  wood,  and  the  town  itfelf  was  for  a  long  time  fo 
Jnconfiderable,  that  in  1536  it  was  ^taken  by  a  French  pirate, 
who  obliged  the  inhabitants 't.o  pay  feven  hundred  ducats  to  faVe 
it  from  being  burnt.  The  veiy  day  after  the  pirate's  departure, 
three  Spanifh  fliips  arrived  from  Mexico,  and  having  unloaded 
their  cargoes,  failed  in  purluit  of  the  pirate  fl:iip.  But  fuch  was 
the  cowardice  of  the  officers,  that  the  pirate  took  all  the  three 
fhips,  and  returningto  the  Havannah,  obliged  the  inhabitants 
to  pay  feven  hundred  ducats  more.  To  prevent  misfortunes  of 
this  kind,  the  inhabitants  built  their  houfes  of  Hone,  and  the 
place  has  fince  been  llrongly  fortified. 

According  to  Abbe  Raynal,  the  Spanifh  fettlement  at  Cuba  is 
very  important,  on  three  accounts :  1.  The  produce  of  the 
country,  which  is  confiderable.  2.  As  being  the  flaple  of  a 
great  trade  ;  and,  3.  As  being  the  key  to  the  Weft-Indies.  Thd 
principal  produce  of  this  ifland  is  cotton;  the  commodity,  how- 
ever, through  negleft,  is  now  become  fo  fcarce,  that  lomctimes 
I'everal  years  pafs  without  any  of  it  being  brought  into  Europe. 
In  the  place  of  cotton,  coffee  has  been  cultivated,  but  by  a  fimi- 
lar  negligence,  that  is  produced  in  no  great  quantity  ;  the  whole 
produced  not  exceeding  thirty  or  .  thirty-five  thoufand  weight, 
one-third  of  which  is  exported  to  Vera  Cruz,  and  the  refl  to 
Madrid.  The  cultivation  of  coliee  naturally  leads  to  that  of  fu- 
gar  ;  and  this,  which  is  the  moft  valuable  produftion  of  Amc- 
lica,  would  of  itfelf  be  iufficient  to  give  Cuba  that  (late  of 
profpeiicy  for  which  it  feems  defigned  by  nature.  Although  the 
lurfaee  of  the  ifland  is  in  general  uneven  and  mountainous,  yet 
it  has  plains  fufficiently  extenfive,  and  well  enough  watered,  to 
fupply  the  confumption  of  the  greateft  part  of  Europe  v/ith 
fugar.  The  incredible  fertility  of  its  new  lands,  if  properly 
managed,  would  enable  it  to  furpals  every  other  nation,  however 
they  may  have  now  got  the  fhart  of  it  ■,  yet  fuch  is  the  indolence 
of  the  Spaniards,  that  to  tliis  day  tliey  have  but  few  planta- 
tions,   where    with    the    finefl:    canes,    they    make    but   a    innU. 


29^  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION' 

quantity  of  coaiTe  fugar  at  a  great  expenfe.     This  ferves  partly* 
for    the   Mexican  market,  and    partly   for  the  mother   country^ 
while  the  indolent   inhabitants  are  content  to  import  fugar  for 
themfelves  at  the  expenfe  of  near  two  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
fand  pounds  annually.      It  has  been   expefted,  with  probability, 
tliat  the  tobacco  imposed  from  Cuba  would  compenfate  this  lols, 
for  after  furnifhing  Mexico  and  Peru,  there  was  fufRcient,  with 
the  little  brought  from  Caracca  and   Buenos  Ayres,  to  fupply  all 
Spain.     But  this  trade,  too,  has  declined  through  the  negligence 
of  the  court  of  Madrid,   in    not   gratifying  the  general  tafte  for 
tobacco  from  tlie  Havannah.     The  Spanifli  colonies  have  an  uni- 
verfal  trade  in  fliins,  and   Cuba   fupplies   annually  about   ten  or 
twelve  thoufand.     The  number  rriight   eafily  be    increafed   in   a 
country  abounding  with  wild  cattle,'  where  fome  gentlerhen  pof- 
fefs  large  trails  of  ground,  that  for  want  of  population  can  fcarce 
be  applied    to  any  other  purpofe    than  that   of  breeding  cattle. 
The  hundredth  part  of  this  ifland  is   not  yet  cleared  ;  the  true 
plantations  are  all   confined  to  the  beautiful  plains  of  the    Ha- 
vannah, and  even  thofe  are  not   what  they  might   be  ;  all  thefe 
plantations  together  may  employ  about  twenty-five  thoufand  malfc 
and  female  flaves.     The  number  of  whites,   meftees,    mulattoes, 
and  free  negroes  upon  the  whole  ifland,  amounts  to  about  thirty 
thoufand.     The  food  of  thefe  different  fpecies  confifts  of  excels 
lent  pork,  very  bad  beef,  and  cafTava  bread,-     The  colony  would 
be  more  flouriihing  if  its  produttions    had    not    been   made  the 
property  of  a  Company,  whofe  exclufive   privilege  operates  as  2 
Gonftant    and    invariable    principle   of  difcouragement.     If   any 
thing  could  fupply  the  want  of  an  open  trade,  and  atone  for  the 
grievances  occafioned  by  this  monopoly  at  Cuba,  it  would  be  the 
advantage  which  this  ifland  has  for  fuch  a  long  time  enjoyed,  in 
Jaeing  the  rendezvous  of  almofl  all   the   Spanifli  veffels  that  fail 
to  the  new  world  5  this  praftice  commenced  almoft   with  the  co- 
lony itfelf.     Ponce  dc  Leon  having  made   an  attempt  upon  Flo- 
rida, in  iri2.  became  acquainted  with  the  new  canal  of  Bahama ; 
it  was  immediately  dilcovered  that  this  was   the  befl    route   the 
fhips  bound  from  Mexico  to  Europe  could  pofTibly  take,  and  to 
this  the  wealth  of  the  ifland    is  principally,  if  not   altogether,- 
owing. 

HISPANIOLA,  OR  S-r.  DOMINGO. 

Hifpaniola,  called  alfo  St.  Domingo,  is  the  largcfl  of  the  Ca« 
ribbce  iflands,  extending  about  four  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
frotTi  eafl  to  weft,  nnd  one  hundred  and  twenty  in  breadth   from 


OF  HISPANIOLA,  OR  ST,  DVAflNGO,  29^ 

JBorth  to  fouth,  lying  between  17°  37'  and  20°  of  north  latitude, 
and  between  6'j'^  35'  and  74'*  15^  weft  longitude.  The  climate 
is  hot,  but  not  reckoned  unwholefome,  and  lome  of  the  inha- 
bitants are  laid  to  arrive  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  twenty^ 
It  is  fometimes  refrcfhed  by  breezes  and  rains,  and  its  falubrity 
is  likewife  in  a  great  meafure  owing  to  the  beautiful  variety  of 
hills  and  valleys,  woods  and  rivers,  which  every  where  prefent 
themfelves.  It  is  indeed  reckoned  by  far  the  fineft  and  moft 
pleafant  iQand  of  the  Antilles,  as  being  the  beft  accommodated 
to  all  the  purpofes  of  life  when  duly  cultivated. 

This  ifland,  famous  for  being  the  carlieft  fettlement  of  the 
Spaniards  in  the  new  world,  was  at  firfl  jn  high  eftinntion  for 
the  quantity  of  gold  it  fupplied  ;  this  wealth  diminifhed  with 
the  inhabitants  of  the  country,  whom  they  obliged  to  dig  it  out 
of  the  bowels  of  the  earth  ;  and  the  lourcc  of  it  was  entirely 
dried  up,  when  they  were  exterminated,  which  was  quickly 
done,  by  a  feries  of  the  moft  fhocking  barbarities  that  ever  dif- 
graced  the  hiftory  of  any  nation.  Benzoni  relates,  that  of  two 
millions  of  inhabitants  Contained  in  the  ifland  when  difcovered 
by  Columbus  in  149?:,  fcarce  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  were 
alive  in  1545.  A  vehement  defire  of  opening  again  this  Iburce 
of  wealth,  infpired  the  thought  of  getting  flaves  from  Africa  ; 
but,  befides  that  thefe  were  found  unfit  for  the  labours  they 
were  deftined  to,  the  multitude  of  mines  which  then  began  to 
be  wrought  on  the  continent,  made  thofe  of  Hiipaniola  no  longer 
of  any  importance.  An  idea  now  fugpjefted  itfelf,  that  their 
negroes,  which  were  healthy,  ftrong,  and  patient,  might  be 
ufefully  employed  in  husbandry  ;  and  they  adopted,  through 
neceffity,  a  wile  refolutlon,  which,  had  they  known  their  own 
intereft,  they  would  have  embraced  by  choice. 

The  produce  of  their  induftry  ivas  at  firft  extremely  fmall, 
becaufe  the  labourers  were  few,  Charles  V.  who,  like  moft 
fovereigns,  preferred  his  favourites  to  every  thing,  had  granted 
an  exclufive  right  of  the  flave  trade  to  a  Flemifli  nobleman,  who 
made  over  his  privilege  to  the  Genoefe,  who  conduced  this  in^ 
famous  commerce  as  all  monopolies  are  condufted  ;  they  refolved 
to  fell  dear,  and  they  fold  but  few.  When  time  and  competitioa 
had  fixed  the  natural  and  neceflary  price  of  flaves,  the  number 
of  them  increafed.  It  may  eafily  be  imagined  that  the  Spaniards, 
who  had  been  accuftomed  to  treat  the  Indians  as  beafts,  did  not 
entertain  a  higher  opinion  of  thefe  negro  Africans,  whom  they 
fubftituted  in  their  place.  Degraded  ftill  farther  in  their  eyes 
by  the  price  they  had  paid  for  them,  they  aggravated  the  weight 

^  q  ^ 


300  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

of  their  fervitude,  it  became  intolerable,  and  thefe  wretched 
flaves  made  an  effort  to  recover  the  unalienable  rights  of  man- 
kind ;  their  attempt  proved  unfuccefsful,  but  they  reaped  this 
benefit  from  their  delpair,  that  they  were  afterwards  treated  with 
lefs  inhumanity. 

This  moderation,  if  tyranny  cramped  b}'-  the  apprehenfion  of 
revolt  can  deferve  that  name,  was  attended  with  fome  good  con- 
fequences.  Cultivation  was  purfued  with  fome  degree  of  fuc- 
cels.  Soon  after  the  middle  of  the  i6th  century,  Spain  drew 
annually  from  this  colony  ten  millions  weight  of  fugar,  a  large 
quantity  of  wood  for  dying,  tobacco,  cacoa,  caffia,  ginger,  cot- 
ton, and  peltry  in  abundance.  One  miglit  imagine  that  fuch  fa- 
vourable beginnings  would  give  both  the  delire  and  the  means 
of  carrying  them  farther  :  but  a  train  of  evcnls  more  fatal  each 
than  the  other,  ruined  thefe  hopes. 

The  firfl  misfortune  arofe  from  the  depopulation  of  the  ifiand ; 
the  Spanifh  conquefts  on  the  continent  Ihould  naturally  have 
contributed  to  promote  the  fuccefs  of  an  ifland,  which  nature 
feemed  to  have  formed  to  be  the  center  of  that  vafl;  dominion 
arifing  around  it,  to  be  flie  ftaple  of  the  different  colonies. 
But  it  fell  out  quite  otherwife  ;  on  a  view  of  the  immenfe  for- 
tunes raifing  in  Mexico,  and  other  parts,  the  richefl  inhabitants 
of  Hiipaniula  began  to  defpiCe  their  lettlemcnts,  and  quitted  the 
true  Iburce  of  riches,  which  is  on  the  furface  of  the  earth,  to  go 
and  ranlack  the  bowels  of  it  for  veins  of  gold,  which  are  quickly 
exhauflcd.  The  government  endeavoured  in  vain  to  put  a  flop 
to  this  emigration  ;  the  laws  were  always  either  artfully  eluded, 
or  openly  violated. 

The  weakncfs,  wich  was  a  nccefiary  confequence  of  fuch  a 
conduft,  leaving  the  coafls  without  defence,  encouraged  the 
enemies  of  Spain  to  ravage  them.  Even  the  capital  of  this 
iJl.ind  was  taken  and  pillaged  by  that  celebrated  Englifli  failor. 
Sir  Francis  Drake,  The  cruifers  of  lefs  confequence  contented 
themftlvcs  with  intercepting  veffels  in  their  pallage  through 
ihols  latitudes,  the  beft  known  at  that  time  of  any  in  the  new 
woild.  To  complete  thefe  misfortunes,  the  Caftilians  themfelves 
commenced  pirates  ;  they  attacked  no  Ihips  but  th<'fe  of  their 
own  nation,  which  were  more  rich,  w(>rle  provided,  and  worfe 
defended  than  any  others.  The  cuftom  they  had  of  fitting  out 
(h'ps  clandeftinely,  in  order  to  procure  flaves,  prevented 
ihe}n  from  being  kr.own,  and  the  iiLlbnce  they  purchaled  frgni' 


OF  HISPANIOLJ,  OR  ST.  DOMINGO.  30 r 

the  fliips  of  war,  commilFioned  to  proteft  the  trade,  infured  to 
them  irrvpunity. 

The  foreign  trade  of  the  colony  was  its  only  refouvce  in  this 
diftrefs,  and  that  was  illicit  ;  but  as  it  continued  to  be  o*rried 
on,  notwithftanding  the  vigilance  of  the  governors,  or,  per- 
haps, by  their  connivance,  the  policy  of  an  exafpcrated  and 
fhort-fighted  court  exerted  itfelf  in  demolifhing  mod  of  the 
lea  ports,  and  driving  the  miferable  inhabitants  into  the  inland 
country.  This  aft  of  violence  threw  thein  iuto  a  flate  of 
dejeftion,  which  the  incurfions  and  letllement  of  the  French  on 
the  iiland  afterwards  carried  to  the  uimoft  pitch.  The  latter, 
after  having  made  fome  unfuccefsful  attempts  to  fctlle  on  the 
iiland,  had  part  of  it  yielded  to  them,  in  1697,  '^"'^  "°^  ^"j^y 
by  far  the  bed  fhare. 

Spain,  totally  taken  up  with  that  vaft  empire  which  flie  had 
formed  on  the  continent,  ufed  no  pains  to  diffipate  this  lethargy - 
{he  even  refufed  to  liften  to  the  folicitations  of  her  Flemifh 
fubjefts,  who  earneftly  prefTed  that  they  might  have  permiflion 
to  clear  thofe  fertile  lands.  Rather  than  run  the  rilk  of  feeing 
them  carry  on  a  contraband  trade  on  the  coafts,  flie  chofe  to 
bury  in  oblivion  a  fetllement  which  had  been  of  coniequence, 
and  was  likely  to  become  lo  again. 

This  colony,  which  had  no  longer  any  intercourfe  with  Spain 
but  by  a  fuigle  fhip,  of  no  great  burden,  that  arrived  from 
thence  every  third  year,  conhlled,  in  1717,  of  eighteen  thou- 
sand four  hundred  and  ten  inhabitants,  including  Spaniards, 
jncflces,  negroes  or  mulattoes.  The  complexion  and  charafter 
of  thele  people  differed  according  to  the  different  proportions 
of  American,  European  and  African  blood  they  had  received 
from  that  natural  and  tranfient  union  which  reftores  all  races 
and  conditions  to  the  fame  level.  Thefe  demi-favagcs,  plunged 
in  the  extreme  of  floth,  lived  upon  fruits  and  roots,  dwelt  in 
cottatres  without  furniture,  and  mod  of  them  without  clothes. 
The  few  arriong  them,  in  whom  indolence  had  not  totally  fup- 
preffed  the  fenle  of  decency  and  tafle  for  the  conveniencies 
of  lite,  purchaled  clothes  of  their  neighbours  the  French  in 
return  for  their  cattle,  and  the  money  lent  to  them  for  the 
maintenance  of  two  hundred  foldiers,  the  prieds  and  the  govern- 
ment. It  doth  not  appear  that  the  company,  formed  at  Barce- 
lona in  1757,  with  cxclufive  privileges  for  the  re-edablifhment 
of  St,  Domingo,  hath  as  yet  made  any  confiderable  progrefs. 
Tiit^y  lend  out  only  two  fmall'  veffels  annually,  which  are 
freighted  back  with  fix  thoufand  hides,  and  forne  other  com-=> 
jnqdities  of  litde  value. 


3C2  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

Domingfj,  the  capital  of  the  ifland,  is  feated  in  that  part 
belonging  to  the  Spaniards  on  the  louth  fide  of  the  illand,  and 
has  a  commodious  harbour.  The  town  is  built  in  the  Spaniih 
manner,  with  a  great  fquare  in  the  rrjddle  of  it,  about  which 
are  the  cathedral  and  other  public  buildings.  From  this  fquare 
run  the  principal  flreets  in  a  direft  line,  they  being  croffed  by 
ethers  at  right  angles,  fo  that  the  form  of  the  town  is  almoft 
fquare.  The  country  on  the  north  and  e^  fide  is  pleafant  and 
fruitful ;  and  iherc  is  a  large  navigable  river  on  the  weft  with 
the  ocean  on  the  fouth.  It  is  the  fee  of  an  acrchbifhop,  an 
ancient  royal  audience,  and  the  feat  of  the  governor.  It  has 
feveral  fine  churches  and  monafteries,  and  is  fo  well  fortified, 
that  a  fleet  and  army  fent  by  Oliver  Cromwell,  in  1654,  could 
rot  take  it.  The  inhabitants  are  Spaniards,  negroes,  mulattoes, 
meflees,  and  Albatraces,  of  whom  about  a  fixth  part  may  be 
Spaniards.  It  had  formerly  about  two  thoufand  houfes,  but 
it  is  much  declined  of  late  years.  The  river  on  which  it  is 
feated  is  called  Ozama.     Wefl  longitude  69''  30',  north  latitude 

P  O  xR.  T  O    RICO. 

This  ifland  is  fituated  between  64"^  and  67°  weft  longitude, 
jSnd  18''  north  latitude,  lying  between  Hifpaniola  and  St. 
Chriftopher's,  It  is  one  hundred  miles  in  length  and  forty 
in  breadth. 

Although  this'  ifland  had  been  difcovercd  and  vifited  by 
Columbus  in  1493,  the  Spaniards  negletled  it  till  1509,  when 
the  tiiirft  of  gold  brought  them  thither  from  St.  Domingo, 
under  the  command  of  Ponce  de  Leon,  to  make  a  conquefb, 
which  afterwards  coft  them  dear, 

Porto  Rico  hath  thirty-fix  leagues  in  length,  eighteen  in 
breadth,  and  one  hundred  in  circumference.  We  may  venture  to 
affirm,  that  it  is  one  of  the  befl;,  if  not  entirely  the  beft,  of 
the  iflands  of  the  new  world,  in  proportion  to  its  extent.  The 
air  is  wholefome,  and  tolerably  temperate,  and  it  is  watered 
by  the  pure  ftreams  of  a  confiderable  number  of  fnlall  rivulets. 
Its  mountains  are  covered  with  either  uleful  or  valuable  trees, 
and  its  vallies  have  a  degree  of  fertility  feldom  to  be*hiet  with 
clfewhei'c.  All  the  produftions  peculiar  to  America  thrive 
upon  this  deep  foil.  A  lafc  port,  commodious  harbours, 
and  coafts  of  ealy  accefs,  are  added  to  thefe  feveral  advanr 
tages. 

On  this  territory,  deprived  of  its  favage  Inhabitants  by  fero- 
cious deeds,  the  memory  of  which   more   than  three  centuries 


OFPORTORICO.  303 

mVe  not  been  able  to  obliterate,  was  fuccefllvely  formed  a  po- 
pulation of  forty-four  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-i 
three  men,  either  white  or  of  a  mixed  race :  moft  of  thera 
were  naked  :  their  habitations  were  nothing  more  than 
huts.  Nature,  with  little  or  no  affiftance,  fupplied  them  with 
fubfiftance.  The  linens,  and  fome  other  things  of  little  value, 
which  they  clandeftinely  obtained  from  the  neighbouring  ot 
from  foreign  iflands,  were  paid  for  by  the  colony  with  tobacco^ 
cattle,  and  with  the  money  which  was  fent  by  gjovernment  for 
the  fupport  of  the  civil,  religious  and  miliary  eflablifhment* 
They  received  from  Spain  annually  only  one  fmali  veffel,  tho 
targo  of  which  did  not  amount  to  more  than  ten  thoufand 
crowns,  and  which  returned  to  Europe  laden  with  hides. 

Such  was  Porto  Rico,  when  in  1765,  the  court  of  Madrid 
carried  their  attention  to  St.  John,  an  excellent  harbour,  even 
for  the  royal  navy,  and  which  only  wants  a  little  more 
extent.  The  town  which  commands  it  v/as  furrounded 
with  fortifications.  The  works  were  made  particularly  flrong 
towards  a  narrow  and  marfhy  neck  of  land,  the  only  place 
by  which  the  toWn  can  be  attacked  on  the  land  fide.  Two 
battalions  and  one  company  of  artillery  croffcd  the  fea  for  its 
defence. 

At  this  period,  a  pofleflion  which  had  annually  received  from 
the  treafury  no  more  than  three  hundred  and  feventy-eight 
thoufand  livres,  coft  them  two  millions  fix  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  thoufand  four  hundred  and  thirty-three  livres,  which  fum 
was  regularly  brought  from  Mexico,  This  increafe  of  fpecie 
Simulated  the  colonifts  to  undertake  fome  labours  ;  at  the  fame 
time  the  ifland,  v/hich  till  then  had  been  under  the  yoke  of 
monopolj'j  was  allowed  to  receive  all  Spanilh  navigators.  Thefs 
two  circumftances  united,  imparted  fome  degree  of  animation 
to  a  fettlement,  the  languifhing  flate  of  which  aftonifhed  all 
nations.  Its  tithes,  which  before  1765  did  not  yield  more  than 
eighty-one  thoufand  livres,  have  increafed  to  two  hundred  and 
thirty  thoufand  four  hundred  and  eighteen  livres. 

On  the  firft  of  January,  1778,  the  population  of  Porto  Rico 
amounted  to  fourfcore  thoufand  fix  hundred  and  fixty  inhabi- 
tants, of  which  number  only  fix  thoufand  five  hutidred  and 
thirty  were  flaves.  The  inhabitants  reckoned  feventy-feven 
thoufand  three  hundred  and  eighty-four  head  of  horned  cattle, 
twenty-three  thoufand  one  Hundred  and  ninety-five  horfes, 
fifteen  hundred  and  fifteen  mules,  arid  forty-nine  thoufand  fifty- 
eight  head  of  fmall  cattle. 


304  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

The  plantations,  the  number  of  which  were  five  thoufand 
fix  hundred  and  eighty-one,  produced  two  thoufand  fevea 
hundred  and  thirty-feven  quintals  of  fugar  ;  eleven  hundred  and 
fourteen  quintals  of  cotton  ;  eleven  thoufand  one  hundred  and 
fixty-three  quintals  of  coffee  ;  nineteen  thoufand  five  hundred 
and  fifty-fix  quintals  of  rice  ;  fifteen  thoufand  two  hundred  and 
fixteen  quintals  of  maize  ;  fcven  thoufand  four  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  quintals  of  tobacco  ;  and  nine  thoufand  eight  hundred 
and  fixly  quintals  of  molafi'es. 

The  cattle  in  the  feveral  pafture  grounds,  -which  were'two 
hundred  and  thirty-four  in  number,  produced  annually  eleven 
thoufand  three  hundred  and  fixty-four  oxen  ;  four  thoufand 
three  hundred  and  thirty-four  horfes  ;  nine  hundred  and  fifty- 
two  mules  ;  thirty-one  thoufand  two  hundred  and  fifty-four 
head  of  fmall  cattle. 

Till  the  year  1778,  no  one  citizen  of  Porto  Rico  was  in 
reality  mailer  of  liis  pofTeflTions.  The  commanders  who  had 
fucceedcd  each  other  had  only  granted  the  inc>ome  of  them. 
This  inconceivable  dcfcft  hath  at  length  been  remedied ,  the 
proprietors  have  been  confirmed  in  their  poireflTions  by  a  law^ 
upon  condition  of  paying  annually  one  real  and  a  quarter,  or 
fixteen  fols  fix  deniers,  for  ever-y  portion  of  ground  of  twenty- 
five  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  eight  toifes,  which  they  em- 
ployed in  cultures;  and  three  quarters  of  a  real,  or  ten  fols  one 
denier  and  a  half,  for  that  part  of  the  foil  that  is  referved  for 
pafture  ground.  This  eafy  tribute  is  to  ferve  for  the  cloathing 
of  the  militia,  compofed  of  one  thoufand  nine  hundred  infantry, 
and  two  hundred  and  fifty  cavalry.  The  remainder  of  the 
ifland  is  diftributed  on  the  fame  conditions  to  thole  who  have 
little  or  no  property^  Thefe  laft,  who  are  diftinguifhed  by  the 
name  of  Agreges,  are  feven  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  in  number. 

TRINIDAD  AND  MARGARETTA. 

Trinidad  is  fituated  between  59°  and  62°  weft  longitude,  and 
.*6'°  north  latitude;  it  was  difcovered  by  Columbus,  who  landed 
on  it  in  I49S,  but  it  was  not  till  1535  that  the  court  of  Madrid 
tocik  pofTeffion  of  it. 

It  is  faid  to  comprehend  three  hundred  and  eighteen  fquare 
leagues.  It  hath  never  experienced  any  hurricane,  and  its 
climate  is  wholelome.  The  rains  are  very  abundant  there  from 
the  middle  of  May  to  the  end  of  Oftober  ;  and  the  dryncfs  that 
prevails  throughout  the  reft  of  the  year  is  not  attended  with  any 


OF  TRINIDAD  AND  MARQARETTA.  30,5 

inconvenience,  becaufe  the  country,  though  deftitute  of  na- 
vigable riveps,  is  very  well  v/atered.  The  earthquakes  are 
Inore  frequent  tlian  dangerous.  In  the  interior  part  of  the 
ifland  there  are  four  groups  of  mountains,  which,  together 
with  .fome  others  formed  by  Nature  upon  the  fhorfts  of  the 
ocean)  occupy  a  third  part  of  the  territory  :  the  reft  is  in  ge- 
neral fufceptible   of  the.  richefl   cultures. 

The  form  of  the  ifland  is  a  long  fouar?.  To  the  north  is 
a  coafl  of  twenty-two  leagues  in  extent,  too  much  elevated 
and  two  much  divided  ever  to  be  of  any  ufe.  The  eafbern 
coafl;  is  only  nineteen  leagues  in  extent,  but  in  all  parts  as 
convenient  as  one  could  wifn  it  to  be.  The  fouthern  coafl 
hath  five-and-twenty  leagues,  is  a  little  exalted,  and  adapted, 
for  the  fucccfsful  cultivation  of  coffee  and  cacao.  The  land 
on  the  weflern  fide  is  feparated  from  tlie  reft  of  the  colony, 
to  the  fouth  by  the  Soldier's  canal,  and  to  the  north  by  the 
Dragon's  mouth,  and  forms,  by  means  of  a  recefs,  a  harbour 
of  twenty  leagues  in  brCadlh,  and  thirty  in  depth.  It  offers, 
in  all  fcafons,  a  fecure  afylum  to  the  navigators,  who,  during 
the  greatefl  part  of  the  year,  would  find  it  difficult  to  anchor 
any    where    elfe,  except    at   the   place   called   the    Galiote. 

In  this  part  are  the  Soanifh  fettlcmcnts  :  they  confift  only 
of  the  port  of  Spain,  upon  which  there  are  feventy-cight 
thatched  hvits,  and  of  St.  Jofeph,  fituatcd  three  leagues  farther 
up  the  country,  where  eighty-eight  lamllieSj  fliU  more  wretch- 
ed than  the    former,   are  computed. 

The  cacao  was  formerly  cultivated  near  thefe  two  villages  ; 
its  excellence  made  it  be  preferred  even  to  that  of  Caraccas. 
In  order  to  fecure  it,  the  merchants  ufed  to  pay  for  it  before- 
hand. The  trees  that  produced  it  pcrifhed  all  in  1727,  and 
have  not  been  re-planted  fincc.  The  monks  attributed  this 
difofter  to  the  colonifts  having  refufcd  to  pay  the  tithes. 
Thofe  who  were  not  blinded  by  interefl;  or  fuperflltion,  afcrib- 
ed  it  to  tlie  north  winds,  which  have  too  frequently  occa- 
fioned  the  fame  kind  of  calamity  in  other  parts.  Since  this 
period,  Trinidad  hath  not  been  much  more  frequented  than 
Cubagua  ;  flill,  however,  it  produces  fugar,  fine  tobacco,  in- 
digo, ginger,  and  a  variety  of  fruits,  with  fome  cotton  trees 
and  Indian  corn,  which    render  it  of  fome   importance. 

Cubagua  is  a  little  ifland,  at  the  diftance  of  four  leagues  on- 
ly from  the  continent,  was  difcovcied,  and  neglcfted  by  Co- 
lumbus,- in  J. -1.98.  The  Spaniards,  being  afterwards  informed 
that  its  fnores-contained  great  trcafures,  repaired  to  it  in  multi- 
tudes in    1509,  and  gave  it  the   name  of  Pearl    Ifland. 

R  r 


,3c6  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

The  pearl  bank  was  foon  e.xhaufhed,  and  the  colony  \V2,1 
transferred,  in  1524,  to  Margaretta,  where  the  regretted  rich- 
es were  found,  and  from  whence  they  dii'appeared  almofl;  as 
loon. 

Yet  this  laft  fettlement,  which  is  fifteen  leagues  in  length 
and  five  in  breadth,  was  not  abandoned.  It  is  almoft  continu- 
ally covered  with  thick  fogs,  although  nature  liath  not  bef* 
towed  upon  it  any  current  waters.  There  is  no  village  in  it 
except  Mon  Padre,  which  is  defended  by  a  fmall  fort  :  its  foil 
would  be  fruitful  if  it  were  euhlvated. 

It  was  almofl  generally  fuppofed,  (hat  the  court  of  Madrid, 
in'  preferving  pvlargaretta  and  Trinid.id,  meant  rather  to  keep 
off  rival  nations  from  this  continent  tlian  to  derive  any  advan-, 
tage  from  them  :  at  prefent  we  are  induced  to  think  other- 
wife  :  convinced  that  the  Archipelago  of  America  was  full 
of  inhabitants  loaded  with  debts,  or  who  poffefTed  but  a  fmall 
quantity  of  indifferent  land,  the  council  of  Charles  III.  of- 
fered great  concclTions,  in  thefe  two  iilands,  to  thofe  who 
fliould  embrace  their  faith.  The  freedom  of  commerce  with 
all  the  Spanifli  tnidcrs  was  infured  to  them.  They  were  only 
obliged  to  deliver  their  cacao  to  the  coiBpany  of  Caraccas, 
but  at  twenty-feven  fols  per  pound,  and  under  the  condition 
that  this  company  fhould  advance  them  feme  capital.  Thefe 
overtures  have  only  met  with  a  favourable  reception  at  Gra- 
nada, from  whence  fome  Frenchmen  have  made  their  efcapc 
with  a  few  flavcs,  either  to  fkrcen  themlelves  from  the  pur- 
fuits  of  their  creditors,  or  from  averfion  to  the  fway  of  the 
Englifh.  In  every  other  part  they  have  had  no  efle61:,  whe- 
ther from  averfion  for  zn  opprefhve  government,  or  whether 
it  be  that  the  expeilations  of  all  are  at  prefent  turned  towards 
the   north    of  the   new   world. 

Trinidsd  and  Margaretta  are  at  prefent  inhabited  only  by 
a  few  Spaniards,  who,  with  fome  Indian  woman,  have  foimcd 
a  race  of  men,  wha,  uniting  the  indolence  of  the  favage  tC' 
(he  vices  of  civililed  nations,  are  fiusfards,  cheats  and  zeah)ts. 
They  live  upon  maize,  upon  what  fifh  they  catch,  and  upon 
bananas,  which  Nature,  out  of  indulgv^ncc,  as  it  were,  to  their 
flothfulnefs,  produces  there  of  a  larger  fizc,  and  better  qua- 
lity, than  in  any  other  part  of  the  Archipehigo.  They  have 
a  breed  of  lean  and  taftelefs  cattle,  with  which  they  carry 
on  a  fraudulent  traffic  to  the  French  colonies,  exchanging  them 
for  camlets,  black  veils,  linens,  filk  flockings,  white  hats,  and 
hardware.  The  number  cf  their  veflcls  does  not  exceed  thirty 
floops,    without   decks. 


OF  TRINIDAD  AND  MARGARETTA  307 

The  tame  animals  of  thcfe  two  iilands  have  filled  the  wood'; 
with  a  breed  of  horned  cattle,  which  are  become  wtM  :  the 
inhabitants  flioot  them,  and  cut  their  flefh  into  flips  of  three 
inches  in  breadth  and  one  in  thickncis,  which  they  dry,  after 
having  melted  the  fat  out  of  them,  fo  that  they  will  keep 
three  or  four  months.  This  provifion,  which  is  called  taflajoj 
is  fold  in  the  French  fettlements  for  twenty  livers  a  hundred 
weight.  1 

All  the  money  which  the  government  fends  to  thefc  two 
iflands,  falls  into  the  hands  of  the  commandants,  the  officers 
civil  and  military,  and  the  monks.  The  remainder  of  the 
people,  who  do  not  amount  to  more  than  fixteen  hundred, 
live  in  a  ftate  of  the  moft  deplorable  poverty.  In  time  of 
war  they  furnifh  about  two  hundred  men,  who,  for  the  fake 
of  plunder,  ofFer  themfelves,  without  diftinftion,  to  any  of 
the  colonies  that  happen  to  be  fitting  out  cruizers  for  fea. 
Befides  thefe,  there  are  fome  other  fmall  iflands  claimed  by  the 
Spaniards,  but    to  which  they  have  paid  little  or  no  attention^ 


K  r  2 


(    3o8    } 


FRENCH   WEST-INDIES, 


..<..<..<..<..<..<..<..<  Jt  »^<.4«  ^  >..>.>..>.>. 


M  A  R  T  I  N  I  C 


-ART'INlCd  is  the  chief  of  the  French  Caribbce  iflands, 
the  middle  of  which  is  fituatcd.  in  weft  longitude  61®  o', 
north   latitude    14''    30'. 

This  ifland  was  hift  fettled  by  M.  Dernan:ibuc  a  French- 
man, in  the  ytar  1635,  with  only  one  hundred  men  from 
St.  Chriftopher's.  He  chole  rather  to  have  it  peopled  from 
thence  than  from  Europe,  as  he  forefaw  that  men  tired  with 
the  fatigue  of  luch  a  long  voyage,  would  moftly  perifli  foon 
after  their  arrival,  either  from  the  climate,  or  from  the  hard- 
fni^s  incident  to  moft  emigrations.  They  completed  their  firft 
feulement  without  any  difficulty  ;  the  natives,  intimidated  by 
their  fire  arms,  or  feduced  by  piomilcs,  gave  up  the  weftern 
and  foulhern  parts  of  the  illand  to  the  new  comers.  In  a 
fhort  time,  however,  perceiving  the  number  of  thefe  enter- 
prifing  ftrangers  daily  increafir.g,  they  refolved  to  extirpate 
them,  and  therefore  called  in  the  favages  of  the  neighbour- 
ing iflands  to  affifl  them  ;  they  fell  jointly  upon  a  little  fort 
that  had  been  haflily  erefted,  but  were  repulfed  with  the 
lofs  of  feven  or  eight  hundred  of  their  beft  warriors,  who 
were    left    dead   upon    the   fpot. 

After  this  check,  the  favages  for  a  long  time  difappeared 
entirely,  but  at  lafl  they  returned,  bringing  with  them  prefents 
to  the  French,  and  making  cxcufes  for  what  had  happened  ; 
they  were  received  in  a  friendly  manner,  and  the  reconcilia- 
tion iealed  with  pots  of  brandy.  This  peaceable  Hate  of  affairs, 
however,  v/as  of  no  long  continuance,  the  French  took  fuch 
undue  advantages  of  their  fuperioiily  over  the  favages,  that  they 
foon  rekindled  in  the  others  that  hatred  which  had  never 
been  entirely  fubdued.     The  favages  fcparatcd  into  fraall  bands, 


OF    M  ART  IN  ICO.  go? 

and  waylaid  the  French  as  they  cartia  fiiigly  out  into  the  wood* 
to  hunt,  and  waiting  till  the  fportfman  had  difchargcd  his  piece, 
rufhed.upon  and  killed  him  before  he  could  charge  it  again,- 
Twenty  men  had  been  thus  alTaflinated  before  any  reafeft  could 
be  given  for  their  fudden  difappCarance ;  but  as  foon  as  the 
matter  was  known  the  Fiench  took  a  fevere  and  fatal  revengt; 
tha  favagGS  were  purfued  and  mafTacred,  with  their  wives  and 
children,  and  tho  few  that  eleaped  were  driven  out  of  Marti* 
nico,  to  which  they  never  returned. 

The  Frencli  being  thus  left  fole  mafters  of  the  ifland,  lived 
quietly  on  thofe  fpots  which  bed  luited  their  inclinations.  Ai 
this  time  they  were  divided  info  two  clafTcs  ;  the  firft  confifted 
of  thofe  who  had  paid  their  paffage  to  the  ifland,  and  thefe  were 
called  inhabitants,  and  to  theie  the  government  diftributed 
lands,  which  became  their  own,  upon  paying  a  yearly  tribute. 
Thefe  inhabitants  had  undef  their  command  a  multitude  of  dlf- 
orderly  people  brought  over  from  Europe  at  their  e>:pent'e, 
whom  they  called  engagis,  or  bondfmen,  Thi.i  engagement  was, 
a  kind  of  flavery  for  the  term  of  three  years,  on  the  expiration 
of  which  they  were  at  liberty,  and  became  the  equals  of  thofe 
whom  they  had  ferved.  They  all  confined  themfelves  at  firfi: 
to  the  culture  of  tobacco  and  cotton,  to  which  was  foon  added 
that  of  arnotto  arid  indigo.  The  culture  of  fugsr  alfo  was 
begun  about  the  year  1650.  Ten  years  after,  one  Benjamin 
D'Acofta,  a  Jew,  planted  fom6  cacao  trees,  but  his  example 
was  not  followed  till  1684,  when  chocofate  was  more  comrrionly 
ufed  in  France,  Cacao  then  b^cartie  the  principal  fupport  of 
the  colonifts,  who  had  not  a  fufficient  fund  to  undertake  fugar 
plantations;  but  by  the  inclemency  of  the  feafon  in  1718,  all 
the  cacao  trees  were  deflroyed  at  once.  Coffee  was  then  pro- 
pcfed  as  a  proper  obje£l  of  culture  ;  the  French  miniftry  had 
received  as  a  prefent  from  the  Dutch,  two  of  thefe  trees  which 
Were  carefully  preferved  in  the  king's  botanical  garden.  Two 
young  fhoots  were  taken  from  thefe,  put  on  board  a  fliip  for 
Martinico,  arid  entrufted  to  the  care  of  one  M.  Defclieux  ; 
this  fhip  happened  to  be  flraitened  for  want  of  frelli  water,  and 
the  trees  would  have  periihed,  had  not  the  gentleman  fliared 
with  them  that  qucnt'ty  pf  water  which  was  allowed  for  his 
own  drinking.  The  culture  of  coffee  was  then  begun,  and 
attended  with  the  greatefl  and  mod  rapid  fuccefs;  about  the  end 
of  the  laft  century,  however,  the  colony  had  made  but  fmall 
advances.  In  i-joo  it  had  only  fix  thoufund  live  hundred  and 
ninety-feven  white  inhabitants  ;  the  favagcs,  mtilattocs,  and  free 
jiegroes,  men^  women,  ..nd  children,  amouiited  to  no  more  than 


310  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

five  hundred  and  feven  ;  the  number  of  fiaves  was  but  four- 
teen  thoufand  five  hundred  and  fixty-fix;  all  thcfe  together 
made  a  population  of  twenty-one  thoufand  fix  hundred  and 
forty-five  perfons. 

After  the  peace  of  Utrecht,  Martinico  began  to  emerge  from 
that  feeble  ftatc  in  which  it  had  fo  long  continued.  The  ifland 
then  became  the  mart  for  all  the  windward  French  fettlements  ; 
in  its  ports  the  neighbouring  iflands  fold  their  produce,  and 
brought  the  commodities  of  the  mother  country;  and,  in  fhort, 
Jvlartinico  became  famous  all  over  Europe :  their  labour  im- 
proved the  plantations  as  far  as  was  confident  with  the  confump- 
tion  then  made  in  Europe  of  American  produftions,  and  the 
annual  exports  from  the  ifland  am.ountcd  to  about  feven  hundred 
thoufand  pounds. 

The  conneftions  of  Martinico  with  the  other  iflands  entitled 
her  to  the  profits  of  commifTion,  and  the  charges  of  tranfport, 
as  fhe  alone  was  in  the  pofl"e{rion  of  carriages.  This  profit 
might  be  rated  at  the  tenth  of  the  produce ;  and  the  fum  total 
mufl:  have  amounted  to  near  feven  hundred  and  fixty-five  thou- 
fand pounds  :  this  fl:anding  debt  was  feldom  called  in,  and  left 
for  the  improvement  of  their  plantations  ;  it  was  increafed  by 
advances  in  money,  flaves,  and  other  neceflary  articles,  fo  that 
lyianinico  became  daily  n;ore  and  moie  a  creditor  to  the  other 
iflands,    and  thus  kept  them  in  confl:ant  dependence. 

The  connexions  of  this  ifland  with  cape  Breton,  Canada, 
and  Louifiana,  procured  a  market  for  the  ordinary  fugars,  the 
inferior  coffee,  the  molafl'es,  and  rum,  which  would  not  fell 
in  France,  In  exchange  the  inhabitants  received  fait  fifh,  dried 
vegetables,  deals,  and  fome  flour.  In  the  clandefl-ine  trade  on 
the  coafls  of  Spanifli  America,  conflfl;ing  wholly  of  goods  ma- 
nufafturcd  by  the  French  nation,  flie  commonly  made  a  profit 
of  ninety  per  cent,  on  the  value  of  about  one  hundred  and 
feventy-five  thoufand  pounds,  fcTit  yearly  to  the  Caraccas,  or 
neighbouring  colonies. 

Upwards  of  feven  hundred  and  eijhty-feven  thoufand  pounds 
v/ere  conft;antly  circulated  in  this  ifland  with  great  rapidity ; 
and  this  is  perhaps  the  only  country  in  the  world  wJiere  the 
fpecie  has  been  fo  confiderable  as  to  mike  it  a  matter  of  indif- 
ference to  them  whether  they  dealt  in  gold,  filver,  or  commo- 
dities. This  extenfjve  trade  brought  into  the  ports  of  Marti- 
nico annually  two  hundred  fiiips  from  France  ;  fourteen  or 
fifteen  fitted  out  by  the  mother  country  for  the  coafl;  of  Guinea, 
fixty  from  Canada,  ten  or  twelve  from  the  iflands  of  Marga- 
jrelta  and  Ti'w/uhA^  hcfld'^s  the  Fnglifb   and  Dutch  fhips  that 


OF   MART  IN  ICO,  311 

came  to  carry  on  a  fmuggling  trade.  The  private  navigatloa 
from  the  ifland  to  the  northern  colonies,  to  the  Spanifh  conti-» 
nent,  and  to  the  windward  iflands,  employed  one  hundred  and 
twenty  veffels,  from  twenty  to  thirty  tons  burden. 

The  war  of  1744  put  a  ftop  to  this  proiperity  :  not  that  tlie 
fault  was  in  Martinico  itfelf;  its  navy^  conftantly  exercifedj 
and  accuflomed  to  frequent  engagements,  which  the  carrying  on 
a  contraband  trade  required,  was  prepared  for  aftion.  In  lefs 
than  fix  months,  forty  privateers,  fitted  out  at  St.  Peter's,  fpread 
themfelves  about  the  latitude  of  the  Caribbee  iflands;  yet  an 
entire  ftop  Was  put  to  the  navigation  of  the  colony,  both  to  the 
Spanifh  coafl  and  to  Canada,  and  they  were  conftantly  difturbed 
even  on  their  oxvn  coafts.  The  few  fhips  that  came  from  France 
in  order  to  compen(ate  the  hazards  they  were  cxpofed  to  by  the 
lofs  of  their  commodities,  fold  them  at  a  very  advanced  price, 
and  bought  them  at  a  very  low  one. 

When  every  thing  thus  feemed  tendi^rg  to  decay,  tiie  peace 
at  laft  reftored  the  freedom  of  trade,  and  with  it  the  hopes  of 
recovering  the  ancient  profperity  of  the  ifland;  the  event, 
however,  did  not  anfwer  the  pains  that  were  taken  to  attain  it^ 
Two  years  had  not  elaplcd  after  the  cefl"ation  of  hoftilities,  when 
the  colony  loft  the  contraband  trade  fhe  carried  on  with  the 
American  Spaniards.  This  lofs  was  not  fo  fenfibly  felt  by  the 
colony  as  the  hardfliips  brought  upon  them  by  the  mother 
country  ;  an  unflcilful  adminiftration  clogged  the  reciprocal 
and  neceftary  conneftion  between  the  iflands  and  North-America 
■  with  fo  many  formalities,  that  in  1755  Martinico  fent  but 
four  ven"cls  to  Canada.  The  direftion  of  its  colonies,  now  com- 
mitted to  the  care  of  ignorant  e.nd  avaricious  clerks,  it  foon 
loft  its  impoitance,  funk  into  contempt,  and  was  proftltuted 
to  venality.  The  war  broke  out  afrefh,  and  after  a  fcries  of 
misfortunes  and  defeats,  the  ifland  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Britifh  ;  it  was  reftored  in  July  1763,  fixteen  months  a f.'er  it 
had  been  conquered,  but  deprived  of  all  the  neccllary  means  of 
profperity  that  had  made  it  of  fo  much  importance.  The  con* 
traband  trade  carried  on  to  tli;  Spanifh  coafts  was  almoft  entirely 
loft,  the  ceftion  of  Canada  to  Great-Britain  precluded  all  hopes- 
of  opening  again  a  coinmimication,  v/hich  had  only  been  inter- 
rupted by  temporary  miftakcs.  The  produftions  of  the  Gre- 
nades, St.  Vincent,  and  Dominica,  which  were  now  become 
Britiih  dominions,  could  no  longer  be  brought  into  their  hai- 
hours,  and  a  new  regulation  of  the  mother  country,  wliich 
forbad  her  having  any  intercourfe  with  Guadaloupc,  left  her 
no  hopes  from  tiiat  quarter. 


Si2  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

The  celony,  thus  deprived  of  every  thing  as  it  were,  and 
deftitute,  neverthelefs  contained,  at  the  lafl:  furvey,  which  was 
taken  on  the  firft  of  January,  1770,  in  the  compafs  of  twenty- 
eight  parifhcs,  twelve  thoufand  four  hundred  and  fifty  white 
people  of  all  ages  ^nd  of  both  fexes  ;  one  thoufand  eight  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  free  blacks  or  mulattoes  ;  feventy  thoufand 
£ve  hundred  and  fifty-three  flaves ;  and  four  hundred  and  fortyr 
three  fugitive  negroes.  The  number  of  births  in  1766,  was  in 
proportion  of  one  in  thirty  among  the  white  people,  and  of  ori« 
in  twenty-five  among  the  blacks. 

The  ifiand  is  fixtecn  leagues  in  length,  and  forty-five  in  cir- 
eumference,  leaving  out  the  capes,  fotne  of  which  extend  two 
«r  three  leagues  into  the  fea  ;  it  is  very  uneven,  and  interfered 
in  all  parts  by  a  number  of  hillocks,  which  are  moftly  of  a 
«onical  form.  Three  mountains  rife  above  thefc  fmaller  emi- 
nences ;  the  highefl  bears  the  indelible  marks  of  a  volcano  ;  the 
woods  with  which  it  is  •ovcred,  continually  attraft  the  clouds, 
which  occafion  noxious  damps,  and  contribute  to  make  it  horrid 
snd  inacceffible,  while  the  two  others  are  in  moft  parts  culti- 
vated. Fram  thefe  mountains  iffue  the  many  fprings  that  water 
the  ifiand  ;  thefe  waters,  which  flow  in  gentle  flreams,  are 
changed  into  torrents  on  the  flightcft  ftorm  ;  their  qualities  are 
derived  from  the  foil  over  which  they  flow  ;  in  fome  places  they 
are  excellent,  in  others  fo  bad,  that  the  inhabitants  are 
obliged  to  drink  the  water  they  have  coUefted  during  the  rainy 
icafon. 

Of  all  the  French  fettlements  in  the  Wefl:-Indies,  Martinico 
is  the  mofh  happily  fituated  with  regard  to  the  winds  which 
prevail  in  thofe  feas.  Its  harbours  poffefs  the  moll  ineftimable 
advantage  of  affording  a  certain  flicker  from  the  hurricanes 
which  annoy  thefe  latitudes.  The  harbour  of  Fort  Royal  is  one 
of  the  beft  in  all  the  windward  iflands,  and  fo  celebrated  for 
its  ia.'cly,  tliat  when  it  was  open  to  the  Dutch,  their  fliip- 
mailers  had  orders  from  the  republic  to  take  flicker  there  in 
June,  July,  and  AugufV,  the  three  months  in  which  the  hurri- 
canes are  moft  frequent.  The  lands  of  the  Lament  in,  which 
3ie  but  a  le^f^ue  dalant,  are  the  richefl;  and  moft  fertile  -.u 
the  wiiole  ifiand.  The  numerous  ftreams  which  water  this 
frunfil  country,  convey  loaded  canoes  to  a  confiderable  diftance 
from  tlic  lea  ;  the  protcftion  of  the  fortifications  fecure  the 
peaceable-  enjcyrr.ent  of  fo  many  advantages,  which,  however, 
are  balanced  by  a  fwampy  and  unwholefome  loil.  This  capital 
cf  Martinico  is  alfo  the  rendezvous  of  the  men   of  war,  which 


OF   GUADALCUPE,  313 

branch  of  the  navy  has  always  opprefTed  the  merchantonen. 
On  this  account  Fort  Royal  was  an  improper  place  to  become 
the  center  of  trade,  and  was  therefore  removed  to  St.  Peter's* 
This  little  town,  notwithflanding  the  fires  that  have  four 
times  reduced  it  to  aflies,  flill  contains  one  thoufand  fevea 
hundred  houfes.  It  is  fituated  on  the  weflern  coafl  of  the  iflaad, 
on  a  bay  or  inlet,  which  is  almoft  circular  ;  one  part  of  it  is  bliilt 
on  the  ftrand  along  the  fea  fide,  which  is  called  the  anchorage, 
and  is  the  place  deftined  for  fh.ips  and  warehoufes  ;  the  other 
part  of  the  town  Hands  upon  a  low  hill  ;  it  is  called  the  Fort, 
from  a  fmall  fortification  that  was  built  there  in  1665,  to  check 
the  feditions  of  the  inhabitants  againft  the  tyranny  of  monopoly, 
but  it  now  ferves  to  piote£l  the  road  from  foreign  enemies  ;  thefs 
two  parts  of  the  town  are  feparated  by  a  rivulet. 

The  anchorage  is  at  the  back  of  a  pretty  high  and  fleep  hill, 
Shut  up  as  it  were  by  this  hill,  which  intercepts  the  eaflerly 
winds,  the  moft  confiantand  moft  falubrious  in  thefe  parts  ;  ex- 
pofed,  without  any  refrefliing  breezes,  to  the  fcorching  beams 
of  the  fun,  refiefted  from  the  hill,  from  the  fea,  and  the  black 
fand  on  the  beach  ;  this  place  is  extremely  hot,  and  always  un- 
wholefome  ;  befides,  there  is  no  harbour,  and  the  fhips  which 
cannot  winter  fafely  upon  this  coaft,  are  obliged  to  ta-ke  ihelter 
at  Fort  Royal.  But  thefe  difadvantages  are  compenfated  by  the 
Conveniency  of  the  road  of  St.  Peter's  for  loading  and  unloading 
bf  goods,  and  by  its  fituation,  which  is  fuch  that  fhips  can  freely 
go  in  and  out  at  all  times,  and  Vv-ith  all  winds. 

GUADALOUPE. 

The  middle  of  this  iflaud  is  feated  in  about  north  latitude  16^ 
30',  weft  longitude  61^  20';  it  is  of  an  irregular  figure,  may  be 
about  eighty  leagues  in  circumference,  and  is  divided  into  two 
parts  by  a  fmall  arm  of  the  fea,  vi^hich  is  not  above  two  leagues 
longj  and  from  fifteen  to  forty  fathoms  broad.  This  canal,  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Salt  river,  is  navigable,  but  will  only  carry 
veffels  of  fifty  tons  burden. 

That  part  of  the  ifland  which  gives  its  name  to  the  whole  co- 
loEiy,  is,  towards  the  center,  full  of  craggy  rocks,  where  the  cold 
is  fo  intenfe,  that  nothing  will  grow  upon  them  but  fern,  and 
fome  ufelefs  fbrubs  covered  with  mofs.  On  the  top  of  tliefe 
rocks,  a  mountain  called  la  Souphriere,  or  the  Brimftone  moun- 
tain,   rifcs    to    an  immenfe  height  ;   it  exhales,  through  various 

S  f 


314  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

openings,  a  thick  black  fmoke,  intermixed  with  fparks  that  arC 
vifible  by  night.  From  all  t-hefe  hills  flou'  numberlefs  fpringSj 
which  fertilize  the  plain  below,  and  moderate  the  burning  heat 
of  the  climate  by  a  refrefliing  dream,  fo  celebrated,  that  the 
galleons  which  formerly  ufed  to  touch  at  tlie  Windward  iflands, 
had  orders  to  renew  their  provifion  with  this  pure  and  falubri- 
ous  water:  fuch  is  that  part  of  the  iflind  properly  called  Gua- 
daloupe.  That  which  is  commonly  called  Grand  Terre,  has  not 
been  fo  much  favoured  by  nature  ;  it  is  indeed  Icfs  rugged,  but 
it  wants  fprings  and  rivers  ;  the  foil  is  not  fo  fertile,  or  the 
climate  fo  wholefome,  or  pleafant. 

No  European  nation  had  yet  taken  polTeilion  of  this  ifland, 
when  five  hundred  and  fifty  Frenchmen,  led  on  by  two  gentle- 
men named  Loline  and  DupleflTis,  arrived  there  from  Dieppe  ont 
th€  28th  of  June,  1635.  They  had  been  very  imprudent  in 
their  preparations  ;  their  provifions  were  fo  ill  chofen,  that 
they  were  fpoiled  in  the  patfage,  and  they  had  fhipped  fo  few, 
that  they  were  exhauiled  in  two  months:  they  were  fupplied 
with  more  from  the  mother  country.  St.  Chriilopher's,  whe- 
ther from  fcarcity  or  defign,  refufed  to  fpare  them  any,  and  the 
firfl  attempts  in  hufbandry  they  iilade  in  the  country,  could  not 
as  yet  afford  any  thing.  No  refource  was  left  for  the  colony 
but  from  the  favages,  but  the  fuperfluities  of  a  people  who  cul- 
tivate but  little,  and  therefore  had  never  laid  up  any  flores, 
eould  not  be  very  confiderable.  The  new  comers,  not  content 
with  what  the  favages  might  freely  and  voluntarily  bring,  came 
to  a  relolution  to  plunder  them,  and  hoftilities  commenced  on 
the  fixteenth  of  January,  1636. 

A  dreadful  famine  was  the  confcquence  of  this  kind  of  war  ; 
the  colonifts  were  reduced  to  graze  in  the  fields,  to  eat  their 
own  excrements,  and  to  dig  up  dead  bodies  for  their  fubfiftence. 
Many  who  had  been  flaves  at  Algiers,  held  in  abhorrence  the 
hands  that  had  broken  their  fetters,  and  all  of  them  cutTed 
tlicir  exiflence.  It  was  in  this  manner  that  they  atoned  for  the 
crime  of  their  invafion,  till  the  government  of  Aubert  brought 
a  peace  with  the  favages  at  the  end  of  the  year  1640. 

The  few  inhabitants  who  had  efcaped  the  calamities  they  had 
drawn  upon  themfelves,  were  foon  joined  by  fome  difcontcnlcd 
colonifts  from  St.  Chriflopher's,  by  Europeans  fond  of  novelty, 
by  failors  tired  of  navigation,  and  by  fome  fea  captains,  who 
prudently     chofe    to    conrjrnit    to    the   care    of    a   grateful    foil 


OFGUADALOUPE.  315 

the  treafures  they  had  faved.  from  the  dangers  of  the  fea. 
But  flill  the  profperity  of  Guadaloupe  was  flopped  or  impeded 
by  obflacles  arifing  from  its  fituation. 

The  facility  with  which  the  pirates  from  the  neighbouring 
iflands  could  carry  off  their  cattle,  their  flaves,  their  very 
crops,  frequently  brought  them  into  a  defperate  fituation.  In- 
teftine  broils,  ariftng  from  jealoufies  of  authority,  often  dif- 
turbed  the  quiet  of  the  planters.  The  adventurers  who  went 
over  to  the  Windward  iflands,  difdaining  a  land  that  was  fitter 
for  agriculture  than  for  naval  expedition,  were  eafily  drawn  to 
Martinico  by  the  convenient  roads  it  abounds  with.  The 
proteftion  of  thofe  intrepid  pirates  brought  to  that  ifland,  all 
the  traders  who  flattered  th-emfelves  that  they  might  buy  up  the 
fpoils  of  the  enemy  at  a  low  price,  and  all  the  planters  who 
thought  they  might  fafely  give  themfelves  up  to  peaceful  lajaours. 
This  quick  population  could  not  fail  of  introducing  the  civil 
and  military  government  of  the  Caribbee  iflands  into  Marti- 
nico. From  that  time  the  French  miniflry  attended  more  feri- 
oufly  to  this  than  to  the  other  colonies,  which  were  not  fo 
immediately  under  their  direction,  and  hearing  chiefly  of  this 
ifland,   they  turned  all  their  encouragement  that  way. 

It  was  in  corifequence  of  this  preference,  that  in  1  -joo,  the 
number  of  inhabitants  in  Guadaloupe  amounted  only  to  three 
thoufand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-five  white  people  >  three 
hundred  and  twenty-five  favages,  free  negroes,  mulattoes  ;  and 
fix  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  twenty-five  flaves,  many  of 
whom  were  Caribs„ 

At  the  end  of  the  year  1755,  the  colony  was  peopled  with 
nine  thoufand  fix  hundred  and  forty-three  whites,  forty-one 
thoufand  one  hundred  and  forty  flaves  of  all  ages  and  both  fexes. 
Her  faleable  commodities  were  the  produce  of  three  hundred 
and  thirty-four  fugar  plantations  ;  fifteen  plo-ts  of  indigo;  forty- 
fix  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  forty  ft:ems  of  cacao  ;  eleven 
thoufand  fevcn  hundred  of  tobacco;  two  million  two  hundred 
and  fifty- feven  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  twenty-five  of 
cofl^ee  ;  twelve  million  feven  hundred  and  forty-eight  thoufand 
four  hundred  and  forty-feven  of  cotton.  For  her  provlfions 
fhe  had  twenty-nine  fquares  of  rice  or  maize,  and  one  thoufand 
two  hundred  and  nineteen  of  potatoes  or  yams  ;  two  million 
and  twenty  eight  thoufand  five  hundred  and  tv/enty  banana 
trees,  and  thirty-two  million  five  hundred  and  feventy^feven 
thoufand  nine  hundred  and  fifty  trenches  of  caflava.  The 
cattle  of  Guadaloupe  confifl:ed  of  four  thoufand  nine  hundred 

Sf  2 


3t6  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

and  fojfy-fix  horfes  ;  two  thoufand  nine  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  mules  ;  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  afles ;  thirteen  thou- 
fand Icven  hundred  and  fixteen  head  of  horned  cattle  ;  eleven 
thouiand  one  hundred  and  fixty-two  flieep  or  goats,  and  tv/o 
thoufand  four  hundred  and  forty-four  hogs.  Such  was  tlie  ftate 
of  Guadaloqpe  when  it  was  conquered  by  the  Eritifh  in  the 
month  of  April,    1759. 

The   colony,   with   its    dependencies,   was   reftored  to  France 
by  the  treaty  of  peace  in  July,    1763. 

By  a  furvey  taken  in  1767,  this  ifland,  including  the 
fmaller  iflands,  Defeada,  St.  Bartholomew,  Marigalante,  and 
the  Saints,  dependent  upon  it,  contained  eleven  thoufand  eiglit 
hundred  and  ftxty-three  white  people  of  all  ages  and  both  fejies ; 
feven  hundred  and  fifty-two  free  blacks  and  mulattoes  ;  feventy- 
two  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  fixty-one  flaves  ;  which  makes 
in  all  a  population  of  eighty-nve  thoufand  three  hundred  and 
feventy-fix  fouls.  The  cattle  confifted  of  five  thoufand  and 
fixty  horfes  ;  four  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-four  mules  ; 
one  hundred  and  eleven  affes  ;  feventeen  thoufand  three  hun- 
dred and  feventy-eight  head  of  horned  cattle  ;  fourteen  thou- 
fand eight  hundred  and  ninety-five  fheep  or  goats,  and  two 
thoufand  fix  hundred  and  fixty-nine  hogs.  The  provifion 
was  thirty  million  four  hundred  and  fcventy-fix  thoufand  two 
hundred  and  eighteen  trenches  of  callava  ;  two  million  eight; 
hundred  and  nineteen  thoufand  two  hundred  and  fixty-two 
banana  trees  ;  two  thouiand  one  hundred  and  eighteen  fquares 
of  land  planted  with  yams  and  potatoes.  The  plantations 
contained  feventy-two  arnotto  trees  ;  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
feven  of  caflTia ;  thirteen  thoufand  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
two  of  cacao  ;  five  million  eight  hundred  and  eighty-one  thou- 
fand one  hundred  arrd  feventy-fix  of  coffee  ;  twelve  million  one 
hundred  and  fifty-fix  thoufand  fev»en  hundred  and  fixty-ninc 
of  cotton  ;  twenty-one  thoufand  four  hundred  and  feventy-four 
fquares  of  land  planted  with  fugar-canes.  The  woods  occupied 
twenty-two  thouiand  and  ninety-feven  fquares  of  land  ;  there 
were  twenty  thoufand  two  hundred  and  forty-feven  in  meadows, 
and  fix  thoufand  four  hundred  and  five  uncultivated  or  foriaken. 
Only  one  thoufand  five  hundred  and  eighty-two  plantations 
grew  cotton,  cofcee  and  provifions.  Sugar  was  made  but  in 
four  hundred  and  one.  Thefe  fugar  works  employed  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  water-mills,  two  hundred  and  fixty-three  turned 
hy  oxen,  and  eleven  wind-inills. 


OF  SAINT  LUCIA.  517 

The  produce  of  Guadaloupe,  including  v.'hat  is  poured  in 
from  the  Imall  iflands  under  her  dominion,  ought  to  be  very 
Confiderable  ;  but  tn  1768,  it  yielded  to  the  mother  country 
no  more  than  one  hundicd  and  forty  thoufand  four  hundred  and 
eighteen  quintals  of  fine  fugar  ;  twenty-three  thoufand  fix 
hundred  and  three  quintals  of  raw  fugar  ;  thirty-four  thoufand 
two  hundred  and  five  quintals  of  coffee  ;  eleven  thoufand  nine 
hundred  and  fifty-five  quintals  of  cotton  ;  four  hundred  and 
fifty-fix  quintals  of  cacao ;  one  thoufand  eight  hundred  and 
eighty-four  quintals  of  ginger;  two  thoufand  five  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  quintals  of  logwood;  twenty-four  chefls  of  Iweetr 
meats :  one  hundred  and  fixty-five  chefls  of  liquors ;  thirty- 
four  cafks  of  rum,  and  twelve  hundred  and  two  undreffed  fkins. 
All  thefe  commodities  were  fold  in  the  colony  only  for  three 
hundred  and  ten  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  ninety-tw^ 
pounds  eighteen  fiiillings  and  three  pence;  and  the  merchandifc 
it  received  from  France  has  cofl  but  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
feven  thoufand  nine  hundred  and  nineteen  pounds,  eighteen 
fiiillings  and  fix-pence :  but  from  that  period  it  confidersbl)" 
increafed  till  the  late  troubles. 

SAINT    LUCIA. 

Saint  Lucia  is  about  tv/enty-two  miles  long  and  eleven 
broad,  the  middle  of  it  lying  in  north  latitude  qq**  14'',  wed 
longitude  27?  o'.  It  was  firft  fettled  by  the  French  in  1650, 
but  was  reduced  by  the  Englifli  in  1664,  who  evacuated  it  in 
^666.  'the  French  immediateiy  re-fettled  the  ifl:ind,  but  were 
again  driven  av/ay  by  the  Caribs,  As  foon  as  the  fav-ages  were 
gone  the  former  inhabitants  returned,  but  only  for  a  Ihort  time; 
for  being  afraid  of  falliag  a  prey  to  the  firft  privateer  that  fhould 
vifit  their  coails,  they  removed  either  to  other  French  fettle- 
ments  that  were  ftronger,  or  which  they  might  expeft  to  be 
better  defended.  There  was  then  no  regular  culture  or  colony 
at  St.  Lucia,  it  was  only  frequented  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Martinico,  who  came  thither  to  cut  wood  and  to  build  canoes, 
and  who  had  confiderable  docks  on  the  ifiand.  In  1718  it  was 
again  fettled  by  the  French  ;  but  four  years  after,  it  was  given 
by  the  court  of  London  to  the  duke  of  Montague,  who  was 
fent  to  take  poffelTion  of  it.  This  occafioned  fome  diflurbance 
between  the  two  courts  ;  which  was  fettled,  however  by  an 
agreement  made  in  1731,  that  till  the  refpe£live  claims  fliould. 
be  finally  adjufled,  the  ifiand  fhould  be  evacuated  by  both 
nations,  but   that    both  fhould   wood   and  water    there.     This 


3i8  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

precarious     agreement     furnifhed   an    opportunity    for    private 

intereft   to    exert   itfelf.      The    Englifh   no   longer  molefted  the 

French    in    their  habitations,  but   employed  them  as  their  afTiU 

tants    in  carrying    on   with   richer  colonies  a   fmuggling   trade, 

which    the    fubjefts    of    both     governments,     thought    equally 

advantageous    to    them.      This    trade    was   more    or    lefs   confi- 

derable  till  the  treaty  of   1763,   when  the  property  of  St.  Lucia 

was  fecured    to    the    crown  of    France.      After   that    time    the 

colony  flourifhed  confiderably.      In    the  beginning  of  the   year 

1772,   the  number  of  white  people  amounted    to   two  thoufand 

and    eighteen    men,   women    and    children  ;  that    of   the   blacks 

to  fix    hundred    and   fixty-three    freemen,  and  twelve  thoufand 

feven    hundred    and     ninety-five     flavcs.       There    were    feven 

hundred    and    fix    dwelling     places.       The    annual   revenue    at 

that    time   was   about    one    hundred  and    feventy-five    thoufand 

pounds,    which,    according   to    the    Abbe    Raynd,    muft    have 

increafed    one-eighth    yeaily    for    fome    time.       It    was    taken 

by    the    Britifh    fleet    under    admirals    Byron    and    Barrington 

in  the  year  177B,  but  was   reflored   to  France   at   the  peace  of 

The  foil  of  St.  Lucia  is  tolerably  good,  even  at  the  fea  fide  ; 
and  is  much  better  the  farther  one  advances  into  the  country. 
The  whole  of  it  is  capable  of  cultivation,  except  fome  high 
and  craggy  mountains,  which  bear  evident  marks  of  old  volca- 
noes. In  one  deep  valley  there  are  eight  or  ten  ponds,  the 
water  of  which  boils  up  in  a  dreadful  manner,  and  retains 
fome  of  its  heat  at  the  diilance  of  fix  thoufand  toifes  from  its 
refervoirs.  Tlie  air  in  the  inland  parts,  like  that  of  all  other; 
uninhabited  countries,  is  foul  and  unw-holefome,  but  grows  lefs 
noxious  as  the  woods  are  cleared  and  the  ground  laid  open.  On 
fome  parts  of  the  fea  coafl  the  air  is  ftill  more  unhealthy,  on 
account  of  fome  fmall  rivers  which  fpring  from  the  foot  of  the 
niountains,  and  have  not  fufficient  flope  to  wafh  down  the  "fands 
with  which  the  influx  of  the  ocean  flops  up  their  mouths,  by 
which  means  they  fpread  themfelves  into  unwholefome  marlhes 
en  the  neighbouring  grounds. 

TOBAGO. 

Tobago  is  fituated  in  11?  odd  minutes  north  latitude,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles  fouth  of  Barbadoes,  and  about  the 
fame  diftance  from  the  Spanifli  main.  It  is  about  thirty-two 
miles  in  length  and  nine  in  breadth.  The  climate  here  is  not 
fo  hot  as  might  be  expetled  fo  near  the  equator;  and  it  is  faid, 
that   it    lies    out   of  the   courfe  of  thofe   hurricanes  that  have 


OF    HISP  AN  10  LA,  319 

fometimes  proved  fo  fatal  to  the  other  Weft-India  iflands.  It 
has  a  fruitful  foil,  capable  of  producing  fugar,  and  indeed  every- 
thing elfe  that  is  raifed  in  the  Weft-Indies,  with  the  addition, 
if  we  may  believe  the  Dutch,  of  the  cinnamon,  nutmeg  and 
gum  copal.  It  is  well  watered  with  numerous  fprings  ;  and  its 
bays  and  rivers  are  fo  difpofed  as  to  be  very  commodious  for  all 
kind  of  fhipping.  The  value  and  importance  of  this  ifland  ap- 
pears from  the  expenfive  and  formidable  armaments  fent  thither 
by  European  powers  in  fupport  of  their  difFerent  claims.  It 
feems  to  have  been  chiefly  poflfefled  by  the  Dutch,  who  de- 
fended their  pretenfions  againft  both  Englanxl  and  France  with 
the  moft  obftinate  perfeverance.  By  the  treaty  of  Aix  la 
Chapellc,  in  1748,  it  was  declared  neutral,  though  by  the 
treaty  of  peace  in  1763,  it  was  yielded  up  to  Great-Britain; 
but,  in  June,  1781,  it  was  taken  by  the  French,  and  ceded  to 
them  by  the  treaty  of   1783. 

St.  Bartholomew,   Deseada  and   Marigalante, 

Are  three  fmall  iflands  lying  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Antigua 
and  St.  Chriftopher's,  and  are  of  no  great  confequence  to  the 
French,  except  in  time  of  war,  when  they  give  fhelter  to  an 
incredible  number  of  privateers,  which  greatly  annoy  the 
Britifh  Weft-India  trade.  St.  Bartholomew  is  now  to  be 
confldered  as  belonging  to  the  crown  of  Sweden,  being  ceded 
to  it  by  France  in  1785. 

HISPANIOLA. 

In  noticing  the  Spanifii  fettlements  in  this  part  of  the  globe, 
we  have  already  taken  a  general  view  of  this  ifland  ;  it  only 
therefore  remains  to  notice  the  French  fettlements  thereon. 

The  French  towns  are,  Cape  Francois,  the  capital,  contain- 
ing feveral  years  ago,  about  eight  thoufand  whites  and  blacks. 
Leogane,  though  inferior  in  point  of  fize,  is  a  good  port,  a 
place  of  confiderable  trade,  and  the  feat  of  the  French  govern- 
ment in  that  ifland.  They  have  two  other  towns,  confiderable 
for  their  trade.   Petit  Guaves  and  port  Louis. 

The  following  is  faid  to  be  an  exaft  ftatement  of  the  popula- 
tion, produft  and  commerce  of  the  French  colony  of  Hifpa- 
niola  in  the  year  1788,  and  may  ferv«  to  fhew  the  immenfc 
lon"es  fuftained  by  the  late  infurreftions  of  the  negroes. 

Whites,  twcnty-feven  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  feven- 
teen  ;  free  people  of  colour,  twenty-one  thoufand  eight  hun- 
dred and  eight ;  flaves,  four  hundred  and   five   thoufand   nvf. 


32(5  GENERAL    ti  ESC  RI P  T 1 0 17 

hundred  and  twenty-eight.  The  plantations  were,  of  fiigar, 
feven  hundred  and  ninety-two  ;  of  indigo,  three  thoufand  and 
ninety-feven ;  of  cotton,  feven  hundred  and  five  ;  of  coffee, 
two  thoufand  eight  hundred  and  ten;  The  manufaftories  wcrcj 
diftilleries,  one  hundred  and  feventy-three  ;  of  brick  and  pot- 
ter's ware,   ftxty-three  ;   of  cacao,   fixty-nine,  and  three  tanners. 

Its  produ6lions  exported  to  France  v/ere,  feventy  millions 
♦wo  hundred  and  twenty-feven  thoufand  feven  hundred  and 
nine  pounds  cf  white  fugar  :  ninety-thrde  millions  one  hundred 
and  feventV-feven  thoufand  five  hundred  and  eighteen  ditto  of 
brut  ditto  ;  fixty-eight  millions  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  thou- 
fand one  hundred  and  eighty-one  ditto  of  coffee  ;  nine  hundred 
arid  thirty  thoufand  and  fixteen  pounds  of  indigo  ;  fix  millions 
two  hundred  and  eighty-fix  thoufand  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
fix  ditto  of  Cotton  ;  and  twelve  thoufand  nine  hundred  and 
ninetv-five  dreffed  fkins. 

Sold  to  American,  Englifh  and  Butch  fmugglers ;  twenty- 
five  millions  of  pounds  of  brut  fug^rs  ;  twelve  milllonG  ditto  cf 
coffee  ;  and  three  millions  ditto  of  Cotton, 

The  molaflfes  exported  in  American  bottoms,  valued  at  one 
million  of  dollars  ;  valuable  wood,  exported  ifi  French  fhipS, 
two  hundred  thoufand  dollars. 

Its  trade  employed  five  hundred  and  eighty  large  fhips,  carry^ 
ing  one  hundred  and  eignty-nine  thoufand  fix  hundred  and 
fcventy-nine  tons,  in  which  the  imports  amounted  to  twelve 
millions  of  dollars,  of  v/hich  more  than  eight  millions  of 
dollars  were  in  manufaflured'  goods  of  France,  arrd  the  other 
four  millions  in  French  produce. 

The  Spanifh  fliips  exported  in  French  goods,  or  money,  one 
million  four  hundred  thoufand  dollars,  for  mules  imported  by 
them  into  the  colony. 

Ninety-eight  French  fliips,  carrying  forty  thoufand  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  tons,  im.ported  twenty-nine  thoufand  ft\'e  hun- 
dred and  fix  negroes,   v.-hich  fold  for  eight  millions  of  dollars. 

The  negroes  in  the  French  divifion  of  this  ifland  have,  for 
feveral  years  pafl,  been  in  a  flate  of  infurreftion.  In  the  pro- 
fjrel's  of  there  diflurbances,  which  have  not  yet  fubfided,  the 
planters  and  others  have  fuflained  imnienfe  lolfes.  As  this 
unhappy  affair  has  engaged  much  of  the  attention  of  the  public, 
we  are  h^ppy  in  being  able  to  give  a  fummary  flatement  of  the 
cau'es  of  this  infurreftion.* 

*  From  a  pamphlet  puhlinied  in  1792,  entitled,  '•  An  Inquiry  into  the  Caufr* 
of  thr  Infuvreftion  of  the  Negroes,  ia  the  Iflind  of  St.   Domingo," 


OF  HIS  PAN  10  L  J,  321 

The  fituation  of  the  French  colonies  early  attraftcd  the  atten- 
tion of  the  conflitucnt  Affembly.  At  this  time  all  was  as  tran- 
quil as  fiidi  a  Jlate  &f  opprejjion  would  permit.  Political  health 
can  only  be  attributed  to  a  country  with  a  free  conflitution. 
The  fituation  of  the  ifland  is  that  of  a  paralytic  ;  one  part  is 
torpid,  whilfh  the  other  is  aflFefted  with  the  frantic  m  ;u 
St.  Vitus's  dance. 

The  firft  interference  of  the  National  AflTenlbly  in  .--^ 

of  the  colonies,  was    by   a    decree  of  the  8th  of  Marcii,    i/QO^ 
which  declared.  That  all    free    perfons,   who  were    proprietory 
and  refidents  of  two   years   ftandingj  arid   who    contribuie'd    to 
the  exigencies  of  the   (late,  fhould  exercife  the  riglus     '     • 
•which  conftitute  the  quality  of  French  citizens. 

This  decree,  though  in  faft  it  gave  no  new  riwhts  to  ihc 
people  of  colour,  was  regarded  with  a  jealous  eye  by  the  white 
planters,  who  evidently  faw  that  the  generality  of  the  qualifi- 
cation included  all  defcriptions  of  proprietors  ;  they  affefted 
howeverj  to  impofe  a  different  conftruftion  on  it.  The  ueopJe 
of  colour  appealed  to  common  juftice  and  common  lenfe  •  it 
was  to  no  purpofe,  the  whites  repelled  them  from  their  alTem- 
hlies  ;  fome  commotions  enfued,  in  which  they  mutually  fell  a 
facrlfice  to  their  pride  and  refentment. 

Thefe  difturbances  again  excited  the  vigilance  of  the  National 
Affembly  ;  a  decree  was  paffed  on  the  lath  of  Oftjber  1-700 
by  which  the  Affembly  d«;Iared,  as  a  conflitutional  article 
*'  That  they  would  eftablifh  no  regulations  refpeftino^  the  inter- 
nal government  of  the  colonies,  without  the  precife  and  formal 
rcquefl  of  the  colonial  affemblies." 

Peace,  however,  was  not  the  confequence  of  this  decree. 
The  proprietors,  it  is  true,  had  obtained  a  legal  right  of  tyran- 
nizing, but  the  unfortunate  quellion  flill  recurred,  Who  fhould 
be  permitted  to  exercife  that  right  ?  On  this  head  the  decree 
was  filent.  New  diffentions  arofe  ;  each  of  the  parties  covered 
under  a  faftious  patriotifm,  the  mofl  attrocious  defigns.  Affaf- 
fination  and  revolt  became  frequent,  Mauduit,  a  French  officer 
of  rank,  loft  his  life  by  the  hands  of  his  own  countrymen. 
At  length  the  unfortunate  Oge,  a  planter  of  colour,  who  had 
exerted  himfelf  in  France  in  the  caufe  of  his  brethren,  le- 
folved  to  fupport  by  force  their  jufl.  pretenfions.  He  landed  in. 
the  Spanifii  territory  of  St.  Domingo,  where  he  affembled  about 
fix  hundred  mulattoes.  Before  he  proceeded  to  hoftilities  he  wrote 
to  the  French  general,  that  his  defire  was  for  peace,  provided  thq 
laws  were  enforced.  His  letter  was  abfurdly  confidered  as  a  decla- 
ration of  war.     Being  attacked  ^nd   vanquilhed,  he  took  refuse 

Vol.  IV.  Tt 


3?.2  GEX£IiAL    DESCRIPTION 

amongft,  the  Spaniards,  whp  delivered  him  up  to  his  adverfaries. 
The  honors  of  his  death  were  the  harbingers  of  future  crimes. 
Thcf'c  diftuibances  Hill  increafing,  the  National  AfTembly  found 
it  nccetrary  at  length  to  decide  between  the  contending  parties. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  1791,  a  decree  waS  made,  confifling  of 
two  articles,  by  the  firft  of  which  the  Affembly  confirmed  that 
of  the  1 2th  of  Oftober,  fo  far  as  refpcftei  the  flaves  in  their 
iflands.  It  is  true,  that  the  word  flave  was  cautioufly  omitted  in 
this  document,  and  they  are  only  charafterifed  by  the  negative 
de'ciiption  of  "  men  not  free,"  as  if  right  and  wrong  depended 
on  a  play  of  words,  or  a  mode  of  expreflion. 

This  part  of  the  decree  met  with  but  little  oppofition,  though 
it  paiied  not  without  fcvere  reprehenfion  from  a  few  enlightened 
members.  The  i'econd  article,  refpefting  the  people  of  colour, 
was  flrongly  contefted  :  thofe  who  were  before  known  by  the 
appellation  of  patriots,  divided  upon  it.  It  was,  however,  de- 
termined in  the  refult,  that  the  people  of  colour,  born  of  free 
parents,  fhould  be  conlidered  as  aftive  citizens,  and  be  eligible 
to  the  olHces  of  government  in  the  iflands. 

This  fecond  article,  which  decided  upon  a  right  that  the  people 
of  colour  had  b;;cn  entitled  to  for  upwards  of  a  century,  inftead 
of  reftoring  peace,  has  been  the  pretext  for  all  the  fubfequent 
evils  that  the  colony  of  St.  Domingo  has  fuftained.  They  arofc 
not  indeed  from  its  execution,  but  from  its  counteraftion  by  the 
while  colonifts.  Had  they,  after  the  awful  warnings  they  had 
already  experienced,  obeyed  the  ordinances  of  an  Affembly  they 
pretended  to  revere  ;  had  they  imbibed  one  drop  of  the  truft 
Ipirit  of  that  conflitution  to  which  they  had  avowed  an  inviola- 
ble attachment  ;  had  they  even  fuppreffed  the  diftates  of  pride 
in  the  fuggcftions  of  prudence,  the  ftorm  that  threatened  them 
had  been  averted,  and  in  theif  obedience  to  the  parent  flate  they 
had  dlfplayed  an  aft  of  patriolifm,  and  prefeived  themfelves 
from  all  poITibility  of  danger. 

But  the  equalization  of  the  people  of  colour  flung  the  irrita- 
ble nerves  of  the  white  colonifls.  The  defcendants  of  Jlavcs  may 
loft  the  refentments  of  their  fiithers  ;  but  the  hatred  of  a  dejpot  is 
hireditary.  The  European  maxim  allows,  "  That  they  never 
pardon  who  have  done  the  wrong  ;"  but  in  the  colonies  this 
perverfuy  attains  a  more  monftrous  growth,  and  the  averfion  to- 
African  blood  dcfccnds  from  generation  to  generation.  No 
looner  had  the  decree  paffed,  than  the  deputies  from  the   iflands 


OF  HIS  PAN  10  LA.  323 

io  the  National  Aflembly  withdrew  their  attenaance :  tlie  colo- 
nial committee,  always  under  the  influence  of  the  planters, 
fufpended  their  labours.  Its  arrival  in  the  ifland  ftruck  the 
whites  with  confternation  :  they  vowed  to  facrifice  their  lives 
rather  than  fufFer  the  execution  of  the  decree.  Their  rage  ori- 
ginating in  defpotifm  and  phrenzy,  carried  them  fo  far  that  they 
propofed  to  imprifon  the  French  merchants  then  in  the  ifland, 
to  tear  down  the  national  flag,  and  hoift  the  Britijli  f^andard  in 
its  place,  whilfl  the  joy  of  the  mulattoes  was  mingled  with  ap- 
prehenfions  and  with  fears,  St.  Domingo  re-echoed  with  the 
cries  of  the  whites,  with  their  menaces  and  blafphemies  againft 
the  conftitution.  A  motion  was  made  in  the  ftreets  to  fire  upon 
the  people  of  colour,  who  fled  from  the  city,  and  took  refuge 
in  the  plantations  of  their  friends  and  in  the  woods  :  they  were 
at  length  recalled  by  proclamation  ;  but  it  was  only  to  fvvear  fu- 
bordination  to  the  whites,  and  to  be  witneffes  of  frefli  enormi- 
ties. Amidft  thefe  agitations  the  flaves  had  remained  in  their 
accuflomed  fubordination  ;  nor  was  it  till  the  month  of  Aug,ufl:j 
J 791,  that  the  fymptoms  of  the  infurreftion  appeared  amongfl 
them. 

A  confiderable  number,  both  of  whites  and  people  of  colour^ 
had  loft  their  lives  in  thefe  commotions  before  the  flaves  had 
given  indications  of  difafFeftion  ;  they  were  not,  however,  in- 
ienfible  of  the  opportunities  of  revolt  afi^orded  by  tlic  difl^entions 
of  their  mafliers  ;  they  had  learnt  that  no  alleviation  of  their 
miferies  was  ever  to  be  expelled  from  Europe  ;  that  in  the  ftrug- 
gle  for  colonial  dominion,  their  humble  interefts  had  been  equally 
facrificed  or  forgotten  by  all  parties.  They  felt  their  curb  re- 
laxed by  the  difarming  and  difperfion  of  their  mulatto  mafl:ers, 
who  had  been  accufl;omed  to  keep  them  under  rigorous  difci- 
pline.  Hopelefs  of  relief  from  anj'  quarter,  they  role  in  dif- 
ferent parts,  and  fpread  defolation  over  the  ifland.  If  the  cold 
cruelties  of  defpotifm  have  no  bounds,  what  fiiall  be  expetted 
from  the  paroxyfms  of  defpair? 

On  the  11th  of  September,  1791,  a  convention  took  place, 
which  produced  the  agreement  called  the  Concordat,  by 
which  the  white  planters  ftipulated,  that  they  would  no  lon- 
ger oppofe  the  law  of  the  15th  of  May,  which  gave  political 
rights  to  the  people  of  colour.  The  colonial  Aflembly  even 
promifed  to  meliorate  the  fituation  of  the  people  of  coloui:, 
born  of  parents  not  free,  and  to  whom  the  decree  of  the  15th  of 
May  did  not  extend.  An  union  was  formed  between  the  plan- 
ters, which,  if  it  had  fooner  taken  place,  had  prevented  the  infur- 

T  t   2 


324  GEN'ERAL    DESCRIPTION 

reftion.     The  inrurgenis  were  every  where  difpirited,  rdpulfed, 
and  difperlcd  ;  and  the  colony    itfelf  prelerved   from  total   del- 

truftion. 

By  a  decree  of  the  National  Affembly,  the  24th  of  September, 
the  people  of  colour  were  virtually  excluded  from  all  right  of 
colonial  Icgiflation,  and  esprcfsly  placed  in  the  power  of  the 
white  colonifts. 

If  the  decree  of  tlie    15th  of  May   could  rnftigate   the  whit6 
colonifls  to  the  frantic  afts  of  violence   before  defcribed,  what 
fhall   we    iuppofe   were  the  feelings  of  the   people  of  colour  on 
that  of  the  24th  of  September,  which  again  blafted  thofe  hopes 
they  had  juftly   founded  on  the  conftitutional  law  of  the  parent 
ftate,  and  the    iolemn    ratification  of  the    white    colonifts?    No 
fooner  was  it  known  in  the  iljands,  than  thofe  diffentions  which 
the  revolt  of  the  negroes  had   for    a    while  appeafed,  broke  out 
with  frefh  violence.     The  apprehenfions  entertained   from  the 
flaves  had  been  allayed  by  the  cffefts  of  the  Concordat  ;  but  the 
whites  no  fooner   found    themfelves   relieved  from  the   terrors 
of  immediate   dcftru£lion,  than  they   availed  themfelves  of  the 
decree  of  the    24th  of  September  ;  they    formally  revoked    the 
Concordat,  arvd  treacheroufly    refuled  to    comply  with    an    en-, 
gagement  to  which  they  owed  their  very  exiftence.     The  peo- 
ple   of   colour  were  in  arms  ;  they  attacked   the   whites  in  the 
iouthern  provinces  ;  they  poffefiTcd  themlelves  of  Fort  St,  Louis, 
iud  defeated  their  opponents  in  feveral  engagements.     A  pow- 
erful body  furrounded  Port  au  prince,   the  capital  of  the  ifland, 
and  claimed  the  execution  of  the  Concordat.     At  (hree  different 
times  did  the  whites  affcnt  to  the  requifuion,  and  as  often  broke 
their  cng;igement.     Gratified  with  the  predileftion  for  monarchy 
and  ariftocracy,  which  the  Conflituent  AfTcmblyJiad  in  its  dotage 
avowed,   they    affefted   the  appellation  of  patriots,  and  had    the 
addrefs  to  transfer  the    popular  odium  to  the  people  of  colour, 
who  were  contending  for  their   ikbisputable  rights,  and  to 
the  few  white  colonifts  who  had  virtue  enough   to  efpoufe  their 
caufe.     Under  this  pretext,  the  municipality  of  Port  au  PrincG 
required  M,  Grimoard,  the  captain  of  the  Boreas,  a  French  line 
of  battle  fliip,   to  bring  his  guns  to  bear  upon,  and  to  cannonade 
the   people  of  colour  ifit-mbled  near   the  town  :   he  at  firft  refuf- 
ed,  but   the    prew,  deluded  by    the  cry    of  patriotifm,  enforced 
h:s  compliance.     No  fooner    M'as  this  niealurc  adopted,  than  the 
people  of  colour  gave   a  loole  to  their  indignation  :   they  fpread 
over  the  country,    and    let    fire  indifcriminatcly  to  all  the  plan- 
tations •,  the   greateft  part  of  the   tov/n  of  Port    au   Prince  fooi% 


OF  HIS  ?  AN  10  L  A,  325 

after  fhared  the  fame  fate.  Nothing  feemed  to  remain  for  the 
white  inhabitants  but  to  feek  their  fafety  in  quitting  the  colony. 

In  the  northern  parts  the  people  of  colour  adopted  a  more 
magnanimous  and  perhaps  a  more  prudent  conduft.  "  They  be- 
gun," fays  Mr,  Verniaud,  "  by  offering  their  blood  to  the 
whites."  '*  We  fhall  wait,"  fjfid  ihfey,  •'  till  we  have  faved 
you,  before  we  affert  our  own  claims."  They  accordingly  op^ 
poled  themfelves  to  the  revolted  negroes  with  unexampled  cou-r 
rage,  and  endeavoured  to  foothe  them  by  attending  to  their  rea- 
fonable  requifitions. 

After  this  recital  of  authentic  and  indifputable  fafts,  it  is  not 
difficult  to  trace  the  caufes  of  the  infurreftion.  The  effects  we 
leave  to  be  dcfcribed  by  the  profeffcd  hillorian  ;  but  the  prudent 
meafures  of  the  French  government  wc  flatter  ourfelves  will  ulti- 
jnately  fucceed  in  extending  peace  and  liberty  to  every  inhabi-p 
tant  of  this,  Af\d  all  the  other  iflands  under  their  dominion  ;  and 
may  the  godlike  plan  for  the  liberation  and  happincfs  of  the 
African,  be  fpeedily  imitated  by  thofe  governments  in  E^urope 
who  have  not  had  fufficient  virtue  to  fct  the  example.* 

*  In  this  account  of  the  French  Wefl-India  iflands  it  will  no  doubt  be 
remarked,  that  we  have  taken  no  notice  of  the  conqueft  of  fome  of  them  by 
Great  Britain  during  the  prefent  war.  The  very  great  probability  that  they 
will  foon  acknowledge  their  former  dependency  on  France,  and  perhaps  join 
in  extending  her  viftories  over  fome  of  the  Britifh  iflands,  muft  be  our  excufe; 
but  if  this  is  not  deemed  fufbcient,  we  have  only  to  remark,  that  the  common 
practice  of  furrendering,  as  the  price  of  peace,  wliat  has  been  purchafed  dur- 
ing a  war  by  a  torrent  of  human  blood,  render  it  impofliblc  lo  lay  what  will, 
ffi  a  few  mcolhs,  belong  to  England  or  France. 


C   326   ) 


DUTCH  WEST-INDIES, 


,^ — «..<,.«..<..<  ,jt  »^>«^^  <j.  >.>..>.•>.  >.. 


St.    EUSTATIUS, 


OlTUATED  in  17"  29'  nortli  latitude,  and  63°  10'  we fl  lon- 
gitude, and  three  leagues  north-weft  of  St,  Chriftopher's,  is 
only  a  mountain,  about  twenty-nine  miles  in  compafs,  rifuig  out 
of  the  fea  like  a  pyramid,  and  almoft  round.  But  though  ft> 
fmall  and  inconveniently  laid  out  by  nature,  the  induftry  of 
the  Dutch  have  made  it  to  turn  to  very  good  account ;  and  it 
is  faid  to  contain  five  thoufand  whites,  and  fifteen  thoufand 
negroes.  The  fides  of  the  mountains  are  laid  out  in  very  pretty 
fettlements,  but  they  have  neither  fprings  nor  rivers.  They 
raife  here  fugar  and  tobacco  ;  and  this  ifland,  as  well  as  Curaffou, 
is  engaged  in  theSpanifh  contraband  trade,  for  which,  however, 
it  is  not  fo  well  fituated  ;  and  it  has  drawn  the  fame  advantage 
from  its  conftant  neutrality.  But  when  hoftilities  were  com- 
menced by  Great-Britain  againft  Holland,  Admiral  Rodney  was 
fent  with  a  connderable  land  and  fea  force  againft  St,  Eufta- 
tius,  which  being  incapable  of  any  defence,  furrendercd  at 
difcretion,  on  3d  of  February,  1781.  The  private  property  of 
the  inhabitants  was  confifcated,  with  a  degree  of  rigour  very 
uncommon  among  civilized  nations,  and  very  inconfillent  with 
Phe  humanity  and  generofity  by  which  the  Englifh  nation  uled 
to  be  charafterifed.  The  reafon  afiigned  was,  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  St.  Euftatius  had  alTifted  the  United  States  with  naval 
and  other  flores.  But  on  the  27th  of  November,  the  fame 
year,  St.  Euflatius  was  retaken  by  the  French,  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  Marquis  de  BouJlle,  though  their  force  confifted  of 
only  three  frigateSj  feme  fmall  craft,  and  about  three  hundred 
men. 


OF  CURASSOU.  327 

CURASSOU, 

This  ifland  is  fituated  in  twelve  degi-ees  north  latitude,  nine 
or  ten  leagues  from  the  continent  of  Terra  Firma,  is  thirty  miles 
long,  and  ten  broad.  It  feems  as  if  it  were  fated,  that  the 
ingenuity  and  patience  of  the  Hollanders  fhould  every  where, 
both  in  Europe  and  America,  be  employed  in  fighting  againft 
an  unfriendly  nature ;  for  the  ifland  is  not  only  barren,  and 
dependent  on  the  rains  for  its  water,  but  the  harbour  is  natu- 
rally one  of  the  worft  in  America  ;  yet  the  Dutch  have  entirely 
remedied  that  defeft  ;  they  have  upon  this  harbour  one  of  the 
largeft  and  by  far  the  moft  elegant  and  cleanly  towns  in  the 
Weft-Indies.  The  public  buildings  are  numerous  and  hand- 
fome ;  the  private  houfes  commodious  ;  and  the  magazines 
large,  convenient,  and  well  filled.  All  kind  of  labour  is  here 
performed  by  engines  ;  fomc  of  them  fo  well  contrived  that 
fhips  are  at  once  lifted  into  the  dock. 

Though  this  ifland  is  naturally  barren,  the  induflry  of  the 
Dutch  has  brought  it  to  produce  a  confiderable  quantity  both  of 
tobacco  and  fugar ;  it  has,  befides,  good  fait  works,  for  the 
produce  of  which  there  is  a  brifk  demand  from  the  Englifli 
iflands,  and  the  colonies  on  the  continent.  But  what  renders 
this  ifland  of  moft  advantage  to  the  Dutch,  is  the  contraband 
trade  which  is  carried  on  between  the  inhabitants  and  the  Spa- 
niards, and  their  harbour  being  the  rendezvous  to  all  nations  in 
time  of  war. 

The  Dutch  fhips  from  Europe  touch  at  this  ifland  for  intelli- 
gence, or  pilots,  and  then  proceed  to  the  Spanifh  coafts  for 
trade,  which  they  force  with  a  ftrong  hand,  it  being  very  diffi- 
cult for  the  Spanifh  guarda  coftas  to  take  thefe  vefl"els  ;  for  they 
are  not  only  ftout  fhips,  with  a  number  of  guns,  but  are  manned 
■with  large  crews  of  chofen  feamen,  deeply  interefted  in  the 
fafcty  of  the  veffel  and  the  fuccefs  of  the  voyage.  They  have 
each  a  fhare  in  the  cargo,  of  a  value  proportioned  to  the  ftation 
of  the  owner,  fupplied  by  the  merchants  upon  credit,  and  at 
prime  coft.  This  animates  them  with  an  uncommon  courage, 
and  they  fight  bravely,  bacaufe  every  man  fights  in  defence  of 
his  own  property.  Befides  this,  there  is  a  conftant  intercourfe 
between  this  ifland  and  the  Spanifh  continent. 

CurafTou  has  numerous  warehoufes,  always  full  of  the  com- 
modities of  Europe  and  the  Eaft-Indies.  Here  are  all  forts  of 
woollen  and  linen  cloth,  laces,  filks,  ribands,  iron  utenfils, 
naval  and  military   ftoreSj  brandy,  the  fpices  of  the    Moluccas, 


328  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION^  ^d 

and  the  calicoes  of  India,  white  and  painted.  Hither  the 
Dutch  Wefh-India,  which  is  alfo  their  African  company,  annu- 
ally bring  three  or  four  cargoes  of  flaves  ;  and  to  this  mart  the 
Spaniards  themfelves  come  in  fmall  veffels,  and  carry  off  not 
only  tlie  beft  of  the  negroes,  at  a  very  high  price,  but  great 
quantities  of  all  the  above  forts  of  goods  ;  and  the  feller  has  this 
advantage,  that  the  rcfufe  of  Warehoufes  and  mercers'  fhops, 
and  every  thing  that  is  grown  unfafhionable  and  unfaleable  in 
Europe,  go  off  here  extremely  well  :  every  thing  being  fuffici-^ 
ently  recommended  by  its  being  European.  The  Spaniards  pay 
in  gold  and  filver,  roined  or  in  bars,  cacoa,  vanilla,  jefuits  barky 
cochineal,  and  other  valuable  commodities. 

The  trade  of  CurafTou,  even  in  times  of  peace,  is  faid  to  be 
annually  worth  to  the  Dutch  no  lefs  than  five  hundred  thoufand 
pounds  •  but  in  time  of  war  the  profit  is  flill  greater,  for  then 
it  becomes  the  common  emporium  of  the  Weft-Indies  ;  it  af- 
fords a  retreat  to  fhips  of  all  nations,  and  at  the  fame  time  re- 
fufes  none  of  them  arms  and  ammunition  to  deftroy  one  another. 
The  intercourfe  with  Spain  being  then  interrupted,  the  Spanifh 
colonies  have  fcarce  any  other  market  from  whence  they  can 
be  well  fupplied  either  with  flaves  or  goods.  The  French 
come  hither  to  buy  the  beef,  pork,  corn,  flour,  and  lumber, 
which  are  brought  from  the  continent  of  North  America,  or 
exported  from  Ireland  ;  fo  that  whether  in  peace  or  in  war,  th« 
trade  of  this  ifland  flourifhes  extremely. 

The  trade  of  all  the  Dutch  American  fettlements  was  origt- 
tially  carried  on  by  the  Weft-India  company  alone  ;  at  prefent, 
fuch  fhips  as  go  upon  that  trade,  pay  two  and  a  half  per  cent, 
for  their  licenfes  ;  the  company,  however,  referve  to  themfelves 
the  whole  of  what  is  carried  on  between  Africa  and  the  Ame- 
rican iflands. 

The  other  iflands,  Bonaire  and  Aruba,  are  inconfiderable  in 
themfelves,  and  fhould  be  regarded  as  appendages  to  Curaflbu, 
for  which  they  are  chiefly  employed  in  raifing  cattle  and  other 
provifions. 

The  ifland  of  Saba,  fituated  at  no  great  diftance  from  St.  Eu- 
flatius,  is  fmall,  and  hardly  deferves  to  be  mentioned. 


(  3^9  ) 


DANISH  WEST-INDIES, 


-^...<..<..<..<..«>J>>..>ty..»,.> 


St.    THOMAS. 


A, 


-N  inconfiderable  member  of  the  Caribbees,  Tituated  in  fix- 
ty-four  degrees  weft  longitude,  and  eighteen  degrees  north  lati- 
tude, about  fifteen  miles  in  circumference,  and  has  a  fafe  and 
commodious  harbour. 

St.  CROIX,  OR  SANTA  CRUZ. 

Another  fmall  and  unhealthy  ifland,  lying  about  five  leagues 
caft  of  St.  Thomas,  ten  or  twelve  leagues  in  length,  and  three 
or  four  where  it  is  broadeft.  Thefe  iflands,  fo  long  as  they  re- 
mained in  the  hands  of  the  Danifh  Wefh-India  Company,  were 
ill  managed,  and  of  little  confequence  to  the  Danes  ;  but  that 
wife  and  benevolent  prince,  the  late  king  of  Denmark,  bought 
up  the  company's  ftock,  and  laid  the  trade  open  ;  and  fince  that 
time  the  ifland  of  St.  Thomas,  as  well  as  this,  has  been  fo  greatly 
improved,  that  it  is  faid  to  produce  upwards  of  three  thoufand 
hoglheads  of  fugar,  of  one  thoufand  weight  each,  and  other  of 
the  Weft-India  commodities  in  tolerable  plenty.  In  time  of 
war,  privateers  bring  in  their 'prizes  here  for  fr.Ie  ;  and  a  great 
many  veffels  trade  from  hence  along  the  Spaniih  main,  and  re- 
turn with  money  in  fpecie  or  bars,  and  valuable  merchandife. 
A.S  for  Santa  Cruz,  from  a  perfeft  dcfert  a  few  years  fince,  it  is 
beginning  to  fettle  faft  ;  feveral  perfons  from  the  Englifh  iflands, 
fome  of  them  of  great  wealth,  have  gone  to  fettle  there,  and 
have  received  very  great  encouragement  to  do  fo, 

U  u 


530  GENERAL  I>ESCRTPriOh\  ict. 

The  Dutch  and  the  I>ancs  hardly  deferve  to  be  mentioned 
amon<'  the  proprietors  of  America  ;  their  poffeflions  there  are 
comparatively  nothing.  But  notwithftanding  they  appear  ex- 
tremely worthy  of  the  attention  of  thefe  powers,  as  the  fharc 
of  the  Dutch  only  is  worth  to  them  at  leaft  fix  hundred  thoUi- 
f^nd  pounds  a  year. 


.  -(  ,33'    ) 
HISTORY  OF 

AMERICAN  QUADRyPEDS, 


! 


N  a  former  part  of  this  work  *  we  have  had  occafion  to  offer 
fpm/  obfej-vations  on  the  animals  of  America  ;  by  that  account, 
for  which  we  are  indebted  to  the  Abbe  Clavigcro,  M.  Buffon, 
and  the  ingenious  Mr.  JefFerfon,  it  appears,  that  the  continent 
of  America  contains  nearly  one-half  of  the  Unown  fpecies  of 
quadrupeds,  fome  of  them  common  to  North-America,  and  to 
the  European  and  Afiatic  parts  of  the  caftern  continent,  and 
others  peculiar  to  America  :  of  thefe  the  greater  part  have  not 
been  accurately  examined  :  it  howtfVer  appears,  that  thofe  com- 
mon to  both  continents  are  fuch  as  may  be  fuppcWed  to  have  mi- 
grated from  one  to  the  other.  Comparing  individuals  of  the 
iame  fpecies  inhabiting  the  difFefent  continents,  fome  are  found 
perfeftly  fimilar  ;  between  others  there  is  often  found  fome  tri- 
vial difference  in  fize,  colour,  or  other  circumflances  ;  in  foms 
inftances  the  European  animal  is  larger  than  the  American,  in 
others  the  reverfe  is  true.  A  fimilar  variety  is  often  found 
among  the  fame  fpecies  in  different  parts  of  the  fame  continent ; 
this  evidently  arifes  from  the  temperature  of  the  climate,  quan- 
tity of  food  furniflied  in  the  parts  they  inhabit,  and  the  degree 
of  fafety  and  quiet  pollefled  ;  the  latter  efFc£l  is  evident  on 
thofe  animals  hunted  for  their  flefli  or  fur,  fucii  as  the  moofc 
deer,  beaver,  &c.  which  have  gradually  diminifhcd  in  their  fize 
wherever  they  have  thus  been  difturbed  ;  but  as  we  have  nei- 
ther a  complete  deCcription  nor  complete  catalogue  c:<tant,  we 
are  not  v/arranted  in  making  mapy  obfervations.  It  is  very  pro- 
bable, that  many  of  the  American  quadrupeds  are  ftill  utterly 
unknown,  and  others  known  only  by  common  report  from 
hunters  and  others,  and  the  information,  therefore,  to  be  re- 
ceived with  caution  ;  from  this  latter  caufe  has  fprung  that  mul- 
tiplication and  mifapplication  of  names,  which  has  produced 
numberlcfs     contradi6lions    in    the    different     writ<"rs     on     this 

*   P-ige  124,  &c.  of  vol.   1. 

y  u  2 


332  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

fubjeft.  Our  account  will  be  little  more  than  a  catalogue, 
with  a  few  remarks  on  thofe  in  particular  which  conftitute  that 
important  branch  of  commerce,  the  fur  trade,  or  are  in  other 
lelpefts  peculiarly  ufeful  or  curious. 

The   Lama. — The  lama   is  the  camel  of  Peru  and  Chili ;  and 
before   the   conquefl  of  thofe   countries  by  the   Spaniards,  was 
the  only  bcaft  of  burden  known  to  the  Indians ;  its  difpofition 
is  mild,  gentle,  and  tradable. 

Before  the  introduftion  of  m^iles,  thefe  animals  were  ufed  by 
the  natives  to  plough  the  land,  and  now  ferve  to  carry  burdens. 
They  march  flowly,  and  feldom  accomplifh  journies  of  more 
than  four  or  five  leagues  a  day ;  but  what  they  want  in  fpced 
as  made  up  by  perfeverance  and  induflry.  They  travel  Hong 
journies  in  countries  impaffable  to  moft  other  animals,  are  very 
fure-footed,  and  arc  much  emploj'ed  in  tranfporting  the  rich 
ores,  dug  out  of  the  mines  of  Potofi,  over  the  rugged  hill* 
and  narrow  paths  of  the  Andes,  They  lie  down  to  be  loaded, 
and,  when  weary,  no  blows  can  excite  them  to  quicken  their 
pace.  They  neither  defend  thcmfelves  with  their  feet  nor 
their  teeth  ;  v/hen  angry,  they  have  no  other  method  of  reveng- 
ing iojuries  but  by  Ipitting  ;  they  can  throw  out  their  faliva  to 
tlie  diftance  of  ten  paces  ;  and  if  it  fall  on  the  fkin,  it  raifes  an 
itching,  accompanied  with  a  flight  inflammation.  Their  flcfh 
is  eaten,  and  is  faid  to  be  as  good  as  mutton  ;  and  of  the  hair  of 
the  wild  fort  the  Indians  make  cloth. 

Like  the  camel,  they  have  the  faculty  of  abltaining  long 
from  water,  and  like  that  animal,  their  food  is  coarfe  and 
trifling  ;  they  are  neither  allowed  corn  nor  hay,  green  herbage, 
of  which  they  eat  very  moderately,  being  fufHcient  for  their 
nourifhment. 

The  vv^ild  lamas,  called  guanacos,  are  ftronger  and  more  aftive 
than  the  domeftic  kind;  they  live  in  herds,  and  inhabit  the 
higheft  pegions  of  the  Cordelieres,  and  they  run  with  great 
fwiftnels  in  places  of  difficult  accefs,  where  dogs  cannot  eafily 
follow  them. 

The  lama  rcfembles  the  camel  in  the  form  of  its  body,  but 
is  without  the  dorlal  hunch  ;  its  head  is  fmall  and  well  fliaped, 
its  neck  long,  and  very  protuberant  near  its  junftion  with  the 
body  ;  in  its  domeftic  flate  its  hair  is  ihort  and  imooth,  when 
wild  it  is  coarfe  and  long,  of  a  yellowHh  colour  ;  a  black  line 
runs  along  the  top  of  the  back,  from  the  head  to  the  tail. 
The  tame  ones  vaiy  in  colour  ;  iome  of  them  are  white,  others 
black,  others  of  a  mixed  colour — white,  grey  and  ruffet,  dif- 
perleJ  in  fpots  :   its   tail    is   fliort.   its  eaK   are  hmv  inches  long, 


JaJaJ^IA^ 


Taibiim,^ 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  333 

its  feet  aifc  cloven  like  thofe  of  the  ox,  and  are  armed  behind 
•with  a  fpur,  by  which  the  animal  is  enabled  to  fupport  itfclf 
on  rugged  and  difficult  ground.  The  height  of  the  lama  is 
about  four  feet,  and  its  length,  from  the  neck  to  the  tail,  fix 
feet. 

Tapiir. — The  tapiir  is  the  hippopotamus  of  the  new  world, 
and  has  by  fome  authors  been  miftaken  for  that  animal  ;  it 
inhabits  the  woods  and  rivers  on  the  eaflern  fide  cf  South- 
America,  from  the  ifthmus  of  Darien  to  the  river  of  the 
Amazjons.  It  is  a  folitary  animal,  fleeps  during  the  day,  and 
goes  out  in  the  night  in  fearch  of  food  ;  lives  on  grafs,  fugar- 
canes  and  fruits.  If  diflurbed  it  takes  to  the  water,  fwims  with 
great  eale,  or  plunges  to  the  bottom,  and  like  the  hippopota- 
mus, walks  thiere  as  on  dry  ground. 

It  is  about  the  fize  of  a  fmall  cow,  its  nofe  is  long  and 
{lender,  and  extends  far  beyond  the  lower  jaw,  forming  a  kind 
of  probofcis,  which  it  can  contraft  or  extend  at  pleafure  ;  each 
jaw  is  furnifhed  with  ten  cutting  teeth,  and  as  many  grinders  ; 
its  ears  are  fmall  and  ereft  ;  its  body  formed  like  that  of  a  hog  ; 
its  back  arched  ;  legs  flaort  ;  and  hoofs,  of  which  it  has  four 
upon  each  foot,  fmall,  black,  and  hollow  ;  its  tail  is  very 
fmall  ;  its  hair  fhort,  and  of  a  dufky  brown  colour.  It  is  mild 
and  inofFenfive,  avoids  all  hoftilities  with  other  animals,  and 
flies  from  every  appearance  of  danger.  Its  fkin,  of  which  the 
Indians  make  bucklers,  is  very  thick  ;  and  when  dried,  is  fo 
hard  as  to  refill  the  impreflion  of  an  arrow.  The  natives  eat 
its  flelh,  which  is  laid  to  be  very  good. 


an'imAls   of   the    ox   kind. 

Of  this  genus,  different  writers  have  given  an  account  of 
three  difhintl  fpecies  in  America,  befides  the  common  domefli- 
cated  animal,  viz.  the  buffalo,  the  musk,  and  the  bison, 
though  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  former  of  thefe  is  any  other 
than  the  bifon,  and  whether  the  variation  between  the  tieat 
cattle  and  the  bifon  is  any  thing  more  tlian  the  effeft  of  domef- 
tication  ;  we  fhall,  however,  defcribe  each  of  them, 

Buffalo. — Though  there  is  the  mofb  ftriking  refemblance  be- 
tween this  animal  and  the  common  ox,  both  in  regard  to  form 
and  nature,  their  habits  and  propenflties  being  nearly  fimilar,  ar-r 
both  equally  fubmiffive  to  the  yoke,  and  may  be  employed  in 
the  fame  domeflic  fervices  ;  yet  it  is  certain,  from  experience, 
that  no  two  animals  can,  in  reality,  be   more    diftinct :   the  cov.' 


334  GENERAL    DESCRJ PTION 

refufes  to  breed  with  the  buffalo,  while  it  is  known  to  propagate 
with  the  bifon,  to  which  it  bears,  in  point  of  form,  a  much 
more  diflant  fimilitude. 

Mr.  Umphreville,  who  ftates  this  animal  to  be  a  native  of 
ITudfon's  bay,  gives  the  following  account  of  the  manner  in 
which  the  Indians  take  it :  "  The  Indians  have  various  ways  of 
killing  the  buffalo;  one  of  which  is  by  cautioufly  approaching 
them  when  feeding.  The  hunter,  upon  this  occasion,  lies  on  his 
holly,  and  will  fometimes  fire  his  gun  forty  or  fifty  times  without 
raifing  the  herd.  They  alio  puriue  them  on  horleback,  and 
fhoot  the;ri  with  arrows  apd  guns.  But  the  means  by  which  the 
greateft  numbers  are  taken  is  by  making  a  pound,  which  is  con- 
ftrufted  in  the  following  manner : — "  They  are  either  of  a  cir- 
cular or  fquarc  form,  and  differ  according  to  the  manner  of  the 
nation  by  whom  they  are  made.  The  fquare  ones  are  compofed 
of  trees  laid  on  one  another,  to  the  height  of  about  five  feet,  and 
?bout  fifty  on  each  fide  of  the  fquare.  On  that  fide  at  which 
tne  animals  are  intended  to  enter,  a  quantity  of  earth  is  laid,  to 
the  height  of  the  conftruftion,  fo  as  to  form  a  hill  of  an  eafy 
afcent  of  about  twenty  feet.  This  dofie,  a  number  of  branches 
of  trees  are  placed,  from  each  fide  of  the  front,  in  a  ftrait  line 
from  the  railed  hill,  for  about  one  hundred  feet  in  length,  con- 
tinually increaftng  in  width,  fo  that  though  the  inward  ends  of 
thefe  lines  of  branches  are  no  more  than  fifty  feet  afunder,  the 
exterior  end  will  exceed  two  hundred  fec-t.  After  this,  a  num- 
ber of  poles,  nearly  fifteen  feet  long  each,  are  placed  at  about 
twelve  feet  diftance  from  each  other,  with  a  piece  of  buffalo 
clung  on  the  top,  and  in  a  ftrait  line  from  the  boughs  above  menr 
tioned.  At  the  foot  of  each  pole  a  man  lies  concealed  in  a  buf- 
falo Ikin,  to  keep  the  animals  in  a  ftrait  dircftion  to  the  pound. 
Thele  poles  are  placed  alike  on  each  fide,  always  increafing  in 
Incadth  from  one  fide  to  the  other,  and  decreafing  in  the  iame 
proportion  us  tlie  animals  approach  the  pound.  Every  prepara- 
tion being  now  •.nndc,  three  or  four  men  fet  off  on  foot  to  find  a 
herd  of  cows,  for  the  bulls  they  think  not  worth  their  trouble  : 
thcfe  they  drive  cafi'y  along,  till  they  arrive  within  the  vicinity 
oi  tlic  pound,  u'hen  one  m;:!:*  is  diipatched  to  give  notice  to  the 
other  Indir.ns,  v.'l;o  immediately  a&",mble  on  horfeback  on  each 
fide  the  herd,  keeping  a  proper  difiance,  for  fear  of  frightening 
the  ammals.  Ly  cirs  mrruriS  thcv  a;e  conducted  within  the  exte- 
rior hne  of  polc".-,  it  freqv.ently  happens  that  they  will  endea- 
'.'O'jr  to  i'l  out-,  'a  prevent  which,  the  rnen  who' are  placed  at 
■     '         >   liittkc  their  {k'ns,  w})'ch  darlvcs  the  herd  to 


jB  !ITJF'Ji'"^'^Xi  O 


MDF  ir_AXi  O  T3LA]P .. 


.AMIiEIUCt-X^      IJiDiK., 


Si'i'//X,Ji'i 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  335 

ttie  oppofite  fide,  where  the  others  do  the  fame  ;  fo  that  at  lad 
they  arrive  at  the  pound,  and  fall  in  headlong  one  upon  ano- 
ther, fomc  breaking  their  necks,  backs,  &c.  And  now  the 
confufion  becomes  fo  great  within,  that  though  the  height  of  the 
building  {hall  not  exceed  five  feet,  none  will  make  their  efcape. 
To  elucidate  this  deicription  of  the  buffalo  pound,  we  have  an- 
nexed a  reprefentation. 

Mujk. — The  mufk  bull  inhabits  the  interior  parts  of  North- 
America,  on  the  weft  fide  of  Hudfon's  baV,  between  Churchill 
and  Seal  rivers.  They  are  very  numerous  in  thofe  parts,  and 
live  in  herds  of  twenty  or  thirty.  The  Indians  eat  their  flefh, 
and  make  coverings  of  their  fkins.  They  are  brought  down  in 
fledges  to  fupply  the  forts  during  the  winter.  Notwithftand- 
ing  the  flefh  is  faid  to  have  a  ftrong  flavour  of  muflc,  it  is  reck- 
dned  v<ery  good  and  wholefome. 

It  is  fomewhat  lower  than  a  deer,  but  more  bulky  ;  its  legs 
are  fliort,  and  it  has  a  fmall  hump  on  its  ftioulder  ;  its  hair  is  of 
a  dufty  red  colour,  very  fine,  and  fo  long  as  to  reach  to  the 
ground  :  beneath  the  hair  its  body  is  covered  with  wool  of  an 
afli  colour,  which  is  exquifitcly  fine,  and  might  be  converted 
into  various  articles  of  ufeful  manufafture — Mr.  Jeremie  fays, 
that  ft:ockings  made  of  it  are  finer  than  filk  ;  its  tail  is  only 
three  inches  long,  and  is  covered  witli  long  hairs,  of  which  the 
Efquimaux  Indians  make  caps,  which  are  fo  contrived,  that  the 
long  hair,  falling  round  their  faces,  defends  them  from  the  bites 
of  the  mufquitoes.  Its  horns  are  clofe  at  the  bafe,  and  bend 
downwards,  turning  out  at  the  points  ;  they  are  two  feet  long, 
and  two  feet  round  at  the  bafe  ;  fome  of  them  will  weigh  fixty 
pounds. 

Thefe  animals  delight  chiefly  in  rocky  and  mountainous 
countries  ;  they  run  nimbly,  and  are  very  aftive  in  climbing 
fteep  afcents. 

jBi/brt,— This  animal,  often  called,  though  improperly,  the 
buffalo,  is  by  lome  fuppofed  to  be  the  fame  fpe<jics  as  tlie  com- 
mon domefticated  animal.  Compared  with  the  neat  cattle,  how- 
ever, the  bifon  is  considerably  larger,  efpecialiy  about  the  fore 
parts  of  his  body.  On  his  fhoulders  arifes  a  large  flefhy  or 
grifly  fubftance,  which  extends  along  the  back.  The  hair  on 
his  head,  neck  and  fhoulders,  is  long  and  woolly,  and  all  of  it 
is  fit  to  be  fpun  or  wrought  into  hats.  Calves  from  the  do- 
meflic  cow  and  wild  bull  are  fometimes  railed  ;  but  v/hen  they 
grow  up,  they  become  fo  wild  that  no  common  fence  will  con- 
fine them. 

Ihefe  animals  were  once  exceedingly  numerous  in  the  wef- 
tern  parts  of  Virginia  and  Pennfylvania  ;  and  fo  late  as  the  year 


336  GENERAL  D  ESCRIPT 10  N 

1766,  herds  of  four  hundred  wore  frequently  feen  in  Kentucky, 
arnd  from  thence  to  the  Miiriffippi :  they  are  likewife  comnxon 
in  fome  parts  of  Hudfon's  bay. 


A^•I^:ALS   of   the    deer   kind. 

Of  this  genus  the  American  forefts  abound  with  almofi:  ail 
the  varieties  known,  and  in  the  greateft  plenty  ;  to  elucidate 
this  faft,  we  have  only  to  confider  the  vaft  quantities  of  their 
{kins  annually  imported  into  Europe  :  it  will,  however,  be  un- 
necelTary  to  defcribe  the  varieties  of  the  different  fpecies ;  we 
fhall,   therefore,   only  notice  a  few  of  the  moil   particular. 

Great  Stag,  or  round  horned  Elk. — Of  this  animal  there  never 
has  yet  been  a  good  deicription  ;  the  figure  we  have  given  of  it 
in  the  preceding  plate  is  from  a  reprefentation  profelTed  to  be 
taken  from  a  living  one  brought  from  the  interior  of  North- 
America  :  it  appears  to  have  been  drawn  at  the  time  it  had  fhed 
its  horns,  and  at  about  five  years  old  ;  it  is  however  afferted, 
that  it  does  not  attain  its  full  growth  under  twenty  years.  The 
defcription  given  of  the  above  is  as  follows  : 

At  the  age  of  five  years,  the  length  of  this  creature  was  nine 
feet,  from  the  end  of  the  muzzle  to  the  infertion  of  the  tail, 
the  head  and  neck  being  extended  in  a  line  with  the  body  ;  its 
height  at  the  fhoulder  was  four  feet  fix  inches;  length  of  the 
head  one  foot  fix  incites  ;  breadth  over  the  forehead  feven 
inches  •,  length  of  the  fore  legs  two  feet  five  inches  ;  length  of 
the  neck  two  feet  fix  ;  its  ears  nine  inches  ;  and  tail  three.  Its 
horns,  which  it  had  jufh  fhed,  are  not  palmated  like  thofe  of 
the  moofe ;  they  are  large,  and,  when  full  grown,  meafurc 
above  fix  feet  from  tip  to  tip.  The  antlers  are  round  and 
pointed  at  the  ends,  the  lowermoft.  antler  forms  a  curve  down- 
ward over  each  eye,  to  which  it  appears  a  defence.  Its  hair 
was  long,  of  a  dark,  dun  colour  on  the  back  and  fides  ;  on  the 
head  and  legs  dark  brown  ;  its  eyes  full  and  lively  •,  and  below 
each  eye  there  is  a  deep  flit,  about  two  inches  in  length,  the 
ule  of   which  we  are  unable  to  difcover. 

It  was  very  lively  and  a£live,  of  great  ftrength  of  body  and 
limbs  ;  its  hoofs  fliort,  and  like  thofe  of  a  calf  ;  the  divifion 
between  them  is  lefs  than  in  thofe  of  the  rein-deer,  and,  when 
the  animal  is  in  motion,  they  do  not  make  a  rattling  noife  :  it 
fias  no  mane,  but  the  hair  under  its  neck  is  longer  than  t-hat  on 
any  other  part  of  the  body." 

Moofe. — Of  thefe  there  are  two  kinds,  the  black  and  the 
grey.      The  black  are  faid  to  have  been  from  eight  to   twelve 


of  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  337 

feet  higH ;  at  prefent  they  are  very  rarely  feen.  The  grey 
inoofe  are  generally  as  tail  as  a  liorle,  afid  fome  are  much  taller  ; 
both  liave  fprcading  palmated  Horns,  weighing  from  thirty  to 
forty  pounds  ;  thele  are  fhcd  annually,  in  the  month  of  Fe- 
bruary. They  never  run,  but  trot  with  amazing  fpeedi  In 
i'-immer  they  feed  on  wild  gralFes,  and  the  leaves  of  the  mod 
jnucilaginous  flirubs.  la  winter  they  form  herds  ;  and  when 
the  fnow  falls,  by  rhoving  conllaiuly  in  a  finall  circle,  they  trc^d 
the  fnow  hard,  and  form  what  is  called  a  pen.  While  the  (now 
is  deep,  and  will  not  bear  them,  they  are  confined  vvitliin  this 
pen,  and  cat  all  the  bark  and  twigs  within  their  reach.  They 
are  confidered  as  of  the  fame  ipecies  with  the  elk  of  the 
fcaftern  continent.  They  are  found  in  New-England,  Canada, 
Hudfon's  bay,  Nova-Scotia,  and  oil  the  northern  parts  of 
the   Ohio. 

Caribou,  or  Rein  Deer.-' — This  animal  is  dillinguifhed  by  its 
branching  ^  jhnated  horns,  with  broW  antlers.  From  the  tth-* 
dons  of  this  animal,  as  well  as  of  the  moofe,  the  aboriginal  na- 
tives made  very  tolerable  thread.  It- is  found  in  the  dillricl  of 
Maine,  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hudfon's  bay,  wlierc  they 
are  in  great  herdsi  Columns  of  rhany  thoulands  annually  paL 
from  north  to  louth  in  the  months  of  March  and  April.  In 
that  feafon  the  mufquitoes  are  very  troublelome,  and  oblige  them 
to  quit  the  woods,  and  feek  refrefiiment  on  the  fhore  and  open 
country.  Great  numbers  of  beafts  of  prey  follow  the  htids* 
The  wolves  lingle  out  the  ftragglcrs,  detach  them  from  the 
flock,  and  hunt  them  down  ;  the  foxes  attend  at  a  diflance,  to 
pick  up  the  offals  left  by  the  former.  la  autumn  the  deerj 
with  the  fawns  bred  during  the  fummer,    remigrate  northwardi 

Stag,  cr  Rtd  Deer.-^^This  is  the  moft  beautiful  animal  of  the 
deer  kind.  The  elegance  of  his  form,  the  lightnefs  of  his  mot  * 
onSj  the  flexibility  of  his  limbs,  his  bold,  branching  horns,  which 
are  annually  renewed,  his  grandeur,  llrength  and  Iwiftnelis,  give 
him  a  decided  pre-eminence  over  every  other  inhabitant  of  the 
foreft. 

The  age  of  the  ftsg  is  known  by  its  horns  :  the  Ifrfi;  year 
cjiliibits  only  a  fliort  protuberance,  which  is  covered  v^ith  a 
hairy  Ikin  ;  the  nest  year  the  horns  arc  ftraiglu  and  fingle  ; 
the  third  year  produces  two  antlers,  the  fourth  three,  the 
fifth  four  ;  and,  when  arrived  at  the  fixth  year,  the  antlers 
amount    to    fix    or    feven  on    each  fide,   but  the  number   ia  not 


ikiwavs  ceit^ni. 


X 


338  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

Of  this  fpecies  America  furnifnes  fcveral  varieties,  one  of 
which,  found  on  the  borders  of  the  Ohio  river,  is  very  large, 
and  commonly  confidered  as  a  Ipecies  of  the  elk. 

Fallovj  Z)(^rr.— The  principal  difference  between  tlie  (lag  and 
the  fallow  deer  feems  to  be  in  their  fize  and  in  the  form  of  their 
horns,  the  latter  being  much  fmallcr  than  the  former,  and  its 
horns,  inflead  of  being  round,  like  thofe  of  the  ftag,  are  broad, 
p.ilmatcd  at  the  ends,  and  better  garnifhed  with,  antlers :  the 
tail  is  alfa  much  longer  than  that  of  the  ftag,  and  its  hair  i» 
brighter;  in  other  refpefls  they  nearly  refcmble  each  other. 

The  horns  of  the  fallow  deer  are  fhed  annually,  like  thofc 
of  the  (lag,  but  they  fall  off  later,  and  are  renewed  nearly  at 
the  fame  time. 

'iiiey  allociate  in  herds,  wliich  fometimes  divide  into  two 
parties,  and  maintain  obflinate  battles  for  the  pofTellJon  of 
fome  favourite  part  of  the  park  :  each  party  has  its  leader, 
which  is  always  the  oldeft  and  flrongeft  of  the  flock :  they 
attack  in  regular  order  of  battle  ;  they  fight  with  courage,  and 
mutually  fupport  each  other  ;  they  retire,  they  rally,  and  feldom 
give  up  after  one  defeat  :  the  combat  is  frequently  renewed  for 
feveral  days  together  ;  till,  after  feveral  defeats,  the  weaker 
party  is  obliged  to  give  way,  and  leave  the  conquerors  in  pof- 
ieffion  of  the  objeft  of  their  contention. 

In  the  United  States  thefe  animals  ai.^  larger  than  in  Europe, 
of  a  'dilferent  colour,  and  luppofed  by  Ibme  to  be  a  difrercnt 
fpecies  :  they  are  found  in  plenty  from  Canada  over  all  parts 
of  North-America  to  Mexico. 

Rot.—~-lLh.e.  roe  is  the  imallefk  of  all  the  deer  kind,  being 
only  theee  feet  four  inches  long,  and  fomewhat  more  than  two 
feet  in  height  :  the  horns  are  from  eight  to  nine  inches  long, 
upright,  round,  and  divided  into  three  branches  :  the  body  is 
covered  with  long  hair  ;  the  lower  part  of  each  hair  is  afh. 
colour,  near  the  end  is  a  narrow  bar  of  black,  and  the  point 
is  yellow  ;  the  hairs  on  the  face  are  black,  tipped  with  ai)i 
colour  :  the  ears  are  long,  their  iufides  of  a  pale  yellow,  and 
covered  with  long  hair  ;  the  chcik,  belly,  legs,  and  irilide  of 
the  thighs,  are  of  a  yfHowifli  white  ;  the  rump  is  of  a  pure 
white,  and  the  tail  very  fliort. 

.  The  form  of  the  roebuck'  is  elegant,  and  its  m.otions  light 
and  cafy.  It  bounds  ieemingly  without  effort,  and  runs  with 
great  Iwifcnels.  When  hunted,  k  endeavours  to  elude  its 
purluers  by  the  moft  fubtle  artifices  ;  it  repeatedly  returns 
upon  its  former  llcps,  till,  by  various  windings,  it  has  entirely 
confounded  the  fceat.     The  cunning  auimai   then   by   a    fudden 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  339 

fpring,  bounds  to  one  fide  ;  and,  lying  clofe  down  upon 
its  belly,  permits  the  hounds  to  pafs  by,  without  offering  to 
itir. 

They  do  not  keep  together  in  herds,  like  other  deer,  but 
live  in  feparate  families;  the  hre,  the  dam,  and  the  young  ones, 
affociate  together,   and  feldom  mix  with  others. 

In  America  the  roe  deer  is  more  common  than  in  Europe, 
and  in  Louifiana  it  is  much  larger. 

The  defcription  of  the  two  following  animals  are  taken 
from  Umphreville's  liiflory  of  Hudfon's  B;')f,  and  are 
given  in  his  own  words  : 

"  jfumpir.g  Z)fr,'.-— This  animal,  though  not  half  th-e  fize  of 
the  red  deer,  is  not  the  fmalleft  of  the  Ipecies.  The  one  under 
defcription  receives  its  name  from  the  fingular  manner  of  its 
courfe  ;  this  is  by  a  continual  fucceffiou  of  jumps,  which  they 
perform  with  amazing  celerity,  ipringing  at  the  the  dillance  of 
fifteen  or  fixteen  feet  at  a  jump.  It  is  a  imall,  clean-made 
animal,  exceeding  lively  and  gay,  and  is  of  a  brown  colour 
intermixed  with  grey  hairs  ;  its  food  confifts  of  grafa,.  of  the 
fallen  leaves  of  the  poplar,  the  young  branches  of  different 
kinds  of  trees,  and  the  mofs  adheruig  to  the  pines.  The  horns 
are  about  two  feet  long,  and  refemble  thofe  of  the  red  deer, 
except  in  fize  ;  they  fall  off  in  the  month  of  April.  This  hand- 
fome  animal  ruts  in  November,  brings  forth  in  May,  and  has 
one  and  fometimes  two  at  a  birth.  It  is  needlefs  to  add  that 
the  flefh  is  delicious.  There  are  two  other  kinds  of  the  jump- 
ing deer,  one  of^  which  has  a  very  lliort  tail  like  the  reft  of  the 
fpecies,  whereas  the  other  kind  has  a  tail  about  a  foot  long,  and 
covered  with  red  hairs, 

"  Apis-to-chik-o-JIii/Ji.~-^l  am  not  fuiHciently  converfant  in  the 
fcience  of  zoology  to  give  this  beautiful  animal  its  proper  name 
in  the  Enghfh  language ;  perhaps  it  has  never  yet  been  def- 
cribed  in  natural  hiftory.  The  French  people  refident  in  thefe 
parts  call  it  the  Cu  BUnc,  from  a  white  mark  on  its  rump.  A 
more  beautiful  creature  is  not  to  be  found  in  this  or  perhaps 
any  other  countiy  ;  extreme  delicacy  of  make,  and  exa£l 
fimilarity  of  proportion,  are  obfervablc  in  all  its  parts;  no 
animal  here  is  io  fwift  of  foot,  not  the  fleetefh  horle  or 
dog  can  approach  it.  They  herd  together  in  large  droves  but 
fometimes  three  or  four  only  are  found  in  a  place.  Its  horns 
are  not  oflified  like  the  other  fpecies,  nor  are  they  branched  ; 
both  male  and  female  have  them,  but  they  never  fall  off;  they 
j^efemblc   more  the   horns   of  the   goat  than  thofe   of  the  deer 

X  X    8 


34®  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

ipecies.  They  feed  upon  moft  kinds  of  grafs,  and  (he  tender 
tvvigs  of  trees.  The  whole  length  may  be  about  four  feet 
and  a  half  ;  the  legs  are  white  and  nender  •,  the  reft  of  the  body 
9  light  red,  with  a  white  fpace  on  the  rump." 


ANIMALS    OF    THE     BEAR    KIXp. 

Brorvn  Beer. — There  are  two  principal  varieties  of  the  bear, 
the  brown  and  the  black  ;  the  former  is  found  in  almofl  every 
climate,  the  black  bear,  chiefly  in  the  forefls  of  the  northern 
regions  of  ^Europe  and  America. 

The  brown  bear  is  fometimes  carniyorous,  but  its  general 
food  is  roots,  fruitSj  and  vegetables. 

Jt  is  a  favage  and  folitary  animal,  lives  in  defert  aud  unfre- 
quented places,  and  chufes  its  den  in  the  mofk  gloomy  and 
retired  parts  of  the  foreft,  or  in  the  moft  dangerous  and  inac- 
ccffible  precipices  of  unfrequented  mountains.  In  America  it 
is  chiefly  found  to  the  northweft  of  Hudfon's  bay,  and  the 
■weflern  fide  of  the  continent.  It  is  likewife  found  about 
Nootka  found,  and  the  Andes  of  Peru.  It  retires  alone  to  its 
den  about  the  end  of  autumn,  at  which  time  it  is  exceedinglv 
fat,  and  lives  for  feveral  weeks  in  a  flate  of  total  inactivity  and 
abftinence  from  food.  During  this  time  the  female  brings  forth 
her  young  tind  fuckles  them  ;  fhe  chufes  her  retreat  for  that 
purpofe  in  the  moft  retired  places,  apart  from  the  male,  left  he 
fliould  devour  them  ;  Ihe  makes  a  warm  bed  for  her  young, 
and  attends  them  with  unremitting  care  during  four  months, 
and  in  all  that  time  fcarcely  allows  herfclf  any  nourifhmcnt. 
She  brings  forth  two,  and  fometimes  three  young  at  a  time. 
The  cubs  are  round  and  fhapelefs,  with  pointed  muzzles  :  at 
firft  they  do  not  exceed  eight  inches  in  length  ;  they  are  blind 
during  the  firfc  four  weeks,  of  a  pale  yellow  colour,  and  have 
fcarcely  any  refemblance  of  the  creature  when  arrived  at  matu- 
rity. The  time  of  geftation  in  thefe  animals  is  about  fix  months, 
ari'l  they  bring  forth  in  the  beginning  of  January. 

In  the  fpring,  the  old  bears,  attended  by  their  young,  come 
out  from  their  retreats,  lean,  and  ajmoft  faiiiilhcd  by  their  long 
confinement.  They  then  ranfack  every  quarter  in  fearch  of 
food  ;  they  frequently  climb  trees,  and  devour  the  fruit  in  great 
quantities,  particularly  the  date  plum  tree,  of  which  they  are 
exceedingly  fond  ;  they  afcend  thefe  trees  with  lurprifing  agil- 
ity, keep  themfelves  firm  on  the  brunches  with  one  paw,  and 
with    the  other  collect  tlie   fiuit. 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  ,41 

The  bear  is  remarkably  fond  of  honey,  which  it  will  encoun- 
ter great  difficulties  to  obtain,  and  feeks  for  with  great  cunning 
and  avidity. 

It  enjoys  in  a  fuperior  degree  the  fenfes  of  hearing,  frnelling, 
and  touchingo  Its  cars  are  fhort  and  rounded,  and  its  eyes 
fmall,  but  lively  and  penetrating,  and  defended  by  a  niftating 
membrane  :  from  the  peculiar  formation  of  the  internal  parts 
of  its  nofe,  its  fenfe  of  fmelling  is  exceedingly  exquifUe  ;  the 
legs  and  thighs  are  ftrong  and  mufcujar ;  it  has  five  toes  on 
each  foot,  and  ufes  its  fore  feet  as  a  hand,  although  the  toes  are 
not  feparated  as  in  mofl  animals  thiit  do  fo  ;  the  largeft  finger 
is  on  the  outfide. 

The  voice  of  the  bear  is  a  depp  and  furly  kind  of  growj, 
which  it  frcq.uently  exerts  without  the  leaft  caufe.  It  is  very 
eafily  irritated,  and  at  that  time  its  rcfentment  is  furious,  and 
often  capricioufly  exerted. 

When  tamed,  it  appears  njild  and  obedient  to  its  mafter,  but 
it  is  not  to  be  trufled  without  the  utmoft  caution.  It  may  be 
taught  to  walk  upright,  to  dance  to  lay  hold  of  a  poll  with 
its  paws,  and  perform  various  tricks.  But  to  give  the  bear 
this  kind  of  education,  it  muft  be  taken  when  young,  and 
accuflomed  early  to  reftfaint  and  difcipline  :  an  old  bear 
will  fuffer  neither  without  difcovcring  the  mofl  furious  rc- 
fentment ;  neither  the  voice  nor  the  menaces  oi  his  keep- 
er have  any  effeft  upon  him;  he  equally  groWls  at  the  hand 
that  is  held  out  to  feed,  as  at  that  which  is  raifed  to  correft 
him. 

Black  Bear, — Of  this  animal  there  are  two  forts  found  in  the 
northern  States  ;  both  are  black,  but  different  in  their  forms 
and  habits.  One  has  fhort  legs,  a  thick,  clumfy  body,  is  gene- 
rally fat,  and  is  very  fond  of  fweet  vegetable  food,  fuch  as 
fweet  apples,  Indian  corn  in  the  milk,  berries,  grapes,  honey, 
&c.  Probably  he  is  not  carnivorous.  As  foon  as  the  firfl 
fnow  falls,  he  betakes  himfelf  to  his  den,  which  is  a  hole  in  a 
cleft  of  rocks,  a  hollow  tree,  or  fome  i'uch  place  ;  here  he  gra- 
dually becomes  torpid,  and  dozes  away  the  winter,  fucking  his 
paws,  and  expending  the  flock  of  fat  which  he  had  previoufly 
acquired. 

The  other  fort  is  dLftinguifhed  by  the  name  of  the  Ranging 
bear,  and  feems  to  be  a  grade  between  the  preceding  and  the 
wolf.  His  legs  are  longer,  an"*!  his  body  more  lean  and  gaunt. 
He  is  carnivorous,  frequently  deftroying  calves,  fhcep,  and 
pigs,   and    fomctimes   children.     In  winter   he   migrates  to  the 


312  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

fouthward.  The  former  appears  to  be  the  common  black  bear 
of  Europe  ;  the  latter  correfponds  to  the  brown  bear  of  the 
Alps,  and  is  found  in  all  parts  of  America. 

Pclar,  or  Great  White  Bear. — This  animal  differs  greatly  from 
the  common  bear  in  the  length  of  its  head  and  neck,  and  grows 
to  above  twice  the  fize.  Some  of  them  are  thirteen  feet  long ; 
its  limbs  arc  of  great  fize  and  flrength  ;  its  hair  long,  harfh, 
and  difagrecable  to  the  touch,  and  of  a  yellowifli  white  colour  ; 
its  ears  are  fhort  and  rounded,  and  its  teeth  large. 

It  inhabits  only  the  coldefl  parts  of  the  globe,  and  has  been 
found  above  latitude  eighty,  as  far  as  navigators  have  penetrated 
northwards.  Thefe  inhofpitable  regions  fcem  adapted  to  its 
fullen  nature. 

It  has  been  feldom  fcen  farther  fouth  than  Newfoundland, 
but  abounds  chiefly  on  the  fhores  of  Hudfon's  bay,  Greenland, 
and  Spitzbergcn,  on  one  fide,  and  thofc  of  Nova  Zembla  on  the 
other.  It  has  been  fometimes  found  in  the  intermediate  coun- 
tries of  Norway  and  Iceland  :  but  fuch  as  have  appeared  in 
thofe  parts  have  always  been  driven  thither  upon  floating  fheets 
of  ice,  fo  that  thofe  countries  are  only  acquainted  with  them  by 
accident. 

Wolverene — called  in  Canada  the  Carcajou,  and  by  hunters, 
the  Beaver  Eater,  feems  to  be  a  grade  between  the  bear  and  the 
Nvoodchuck.  He  agrees  nearly  with  the  badger  of  Europe. 
His  length  is  one  foot  and  a  half  and  upwards ;  his  circum- 
ference nearly  two  feet ;  his  head  and  ears  relemble  a  wood- 
chuck's  ;  his  legs  fhort  ;  feet  and  paws  large  and  flrong  ;  tail 
about  fevcn  inches  long,  black,  and  very  bufhy  or  Ihaggy ; 
hair  about  two  inches  long,  and  very  coarfe  ;  his  head  fallow 
grey  ;  back,  almod  black  ;  breaft,  fpotted  with  white  ;  belly, 
dark  brown;  fides  and  rump,  light  reddifla  brown.  This  animal 
lives  in  holes,  cannot  run  fafl,  and  has  a  clumly  appearance. 
He  is  very  mifchievous  to  hunters,  following  them  when  fel- 
ting their  traps,  deflroying  their  game,  particularly  the  beaver; 
found  as  far  north  as  the  Copper  river;  and  louth,  as  the 
country  between  lake  Hudfon  and  lake  Superior ;  and  on  the 
weflern  fide  of  North-America,  in  Canada,  and  the  northerri 
States  they  are  very  numerous. 

Raccoon, — This  animal  is  found  in  all  the  temperate  parts  of 
North-America.  It  is  found  alfo  in  the  mountains  of  Jamaica, 
from  whence  great  numbers  of  them  frequently  defcend  into  the 
plantations,  and  make  great  havoc  among  the  lugar  canes,  of 
\vhich  they  are  pjjrticularly  fond.  The  planters  ccnfider  thefe 
animals  as  their  greatefl  enemies,  as  they  frequently  do  infinite 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS,  343 

mifchief  in  one  night's  excurfion  :  they  have  contrived  various 
methods  of  deftroying  them,  yet  ftlU  they  propagate  in  fuch 
numbers,  that  neither  trapss  nor  fire  arms  can  repel  them. 

The  raccoon  is  fomewhat  Icfs  than  the  badger :  its  head  re- 
fembles  that  of  a  fox,  but  its  cars  are  round  and  much  fhorter, 
and  its  upper  jaw  very  pointed,  and  longer  than  the  lower  : 
its  eyes,  which  are  large,  are  iurrounded  with  two  broad  patches 
of  black  ;  its  body  is  thick  and  fhort,  covered  with  long  hair, 
black  at  the  points,  and  grey  underneath  ;  its  tail  is  long  and 
bufliv,  and  m^ked  with  alternate  rings  of  black  and  white  ;  its 
feet  and  toes  arc  black. 

The  raccoon  is  very  aftive  and  nimble  :  its  claws  which  are  ex- 
tremely fharp,  enable  it  to  climb  trees  with  great  facility.  It 
moves  forward  chiefly  by  bounding,  and  though  it  proceeds  in 
an  oblique  diredlion,  runs  very  fwiftly. 

ANIMALS    OF    THE    DOG    KIND. 

Wolf. — Of  this  animal,  which  is  of  the  dog  kind,  or  rather  the 
dog  himfclf  in  his  favage  ftate,  there  are  in  America  great  num- 
bers, and  a  confiderable  variety  in  fize  and  colour.     The  dimen- 
fions  of  a  fkin,  meafured  for  writing  this  account,  were  as  follows  : 
length  of  the  body  five  feet  ;  the  fore  legs  eighteen  inches  ;  of 
the   hind  legs  fifteen  inches  ;  of  the  tail  eighteen    inches.      The 
circumference   of  the  body   was   from  two   feet  and   a   half  to 
three  feet.     The  colour  of  thefe  animals  in   the  northern  States 
is  generally  a  light  dirty  fallow,  with  a  lift  of  black  along  their 
back.     In   feme,  the  black    is  extended   down   their    fides,  and 
fometimes   forms   waving   ftreaks  ;  others  are  faid  to  be  fpotted  : 
fome   of  them,  particularly   in  the    fouthern  States,  are  entirely 
black,    and    confiderably    fmaller.       The     Indians     are    laid    to 
have   fo    far   tamed    fome   of  thofe  animals  before  their  acquain- 
tance with  the   Europeans,  as   to   have   ufed    them   in   hunting. 
They   next   made    ufe    of    European    dogs,    and    afterwards    of 
mongrels,  the    offspring   of  the    wolf  and    dog,    as   being   more 
docile  than  the    former,  and  more  eager   in   the   chafe  than  the 
latter-     The   appearance  of  many   of  the   dogs,    in   the   newly- 
fettled  parts  of  the   United  States,  indicate  their  relation  to  the 
wolf.     They   are  found  from  Hudfon's  bay  to  the  mofl  fouthern 
parts  of  North-America,  and  in  moil  of  the  fouthern  Slates  they 
are  numerous. 

F^x. — ^Of  the  foxes,  there   are  in   America    a  great  variety ; 
Jfuch  as  the  Silver  Fox,*   Red  Fox,  Grey  Fox,  Crofs  Fox,  Brant 

*  M.  BufTon  is  of  opinion  tbat  this  is  the  Ifaiis,  or  Ar^Ic  i.og. 


344  GENEkAL   DESCRIPTION 

Fox,  and  feveral  others.  '  Naturalifts  have  generally  fuppofcd  that 
there  is  more  than  one  fpecies  of  foxes,  but  they  differ  very 
much  in  their  mode  of  arranging  them.  It  is  highly  probable, 
however,  that  there  is  but  one  fpecies  of  thefe  animals,  as  they 
are  found  in  all  their  varieties  of  fize,  and  of  fliades  varioufly 
intermixed,  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States.  Foxes  and- 
other  animals  furnifhed  with  fur,  in  the  northern  parts,  are 
larger  than  thofe  of  the  fouthcrn. 

ANIMALS    OF     THE    CAT    KIND. 

Catamount. — -This  animal,  the  moft  dreaded  by  hunters  of 
any  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  forefts,  is  rarely  feen,  which  is 
probably  the  reafon  why  no  account  of  him  has  ever  been  pub- 
lifhed,  to  our  own  knowledge,  except  what  is  contained  in  a 
letter  of  Mr.  Colinfon's  to  M.  dc  Buffon.  Tne  dimenfions 
of  one,  killed  a  few  years  ago,  in  Ncw-Kampfhire,  as  nearly 
as  could  be  afcertained  by  the  fkin,  were  as  follows :  the 
length  of  his  body,  including  the  head,  fix  feet ;  circumference 
of  his  body  two  feet  and  a  half  ;  length  of  his  tail  three  feet, 
2nd  of  his  legs  about  one  foot.  The  colour,  along  his  back,  is 
nearly  black  ;  on  his  fides,  a  dark  reddifh  brown  •,  his  feet 
black.  He  feems  not  calculated  for  running,  but  leaps  with 
furpiffing  agility.  His  favourite  food  is  blood,  which,  like  other 
animals  of  the  cat  kind,  he  takes  from  the  jugular  veflels  of 
cattle,  deer,  &c.  leaving  the  carcafe.  Smaller  prey  he  takes  to 
his  den ;  and  he  has  been  known  to  carry  off  a  child.  H^ 
leems  to  be  allured  by  fire,  which  terrifies  all  other  carnivorous 
animals,  and  betrays  no  fear  of  either  man  or  beaft.  He  is 
found  in  the  northern  and  middle  States,  and  mofl  probably  in 
Hudlbn's  bay. 

jfa^uar. — The  jaguar  is  the  mod  formidable  animal  of  the 
new  conlident,  rather  larger  than  the  panther,  with  hair  of  a 
bright  tawny  colour^  The  top  of  the  back  is  marked  with  long 
flripes  of  black,  the  fides  beautifully  variegated  with  irregular 
cblong  fpots,  open  in  the  middle  ;  the  tail  not  fo  long  as.$hatof 
•  lie  ounce,  and  irregularly  marked  with  large  black  fpots. 

It  is  found  in  the  holteft  parts  of  South-America,  is  very 
Gercc,  and  when  prcded  with  hunger,  will  lometiraes  venture 
to  icize  a  man. 

The  Ii\diuns  are  much  afraid  of  it,  and  think  it  prefers  them 
to  the  white  inhabitants,  who,  perhaps,  are  better  prepared  to 
tepei  its  attacks.  In  travelling  through  the  deferts  of  Guiana, 
they  lij;ht  great  fires  in  the  night,  of  v^'hich  thefe  animals  are 
much  afraid. 


oI^iGTTAli  o 


I'tcor.T;*'.  sc  . 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  345 

They  Iiowl  dreadfully  ;  their  cry,  whi^h  is  ex|)renive  of  the 
two  monofyllables,  hou,  kou,  is  fomewhat  pbintive,  grave,  and 
ftrong,  like  that    of  aa  ox. 

The  ant  eater,  though  it  has  no  teeth  to  defend  itfelf  with, 
is  the  moft  cruel  enemy  the  jaguar  has  to  encounter.  As  foon 
as  the  jaguar  attacks  this  little  animal,  it  lies  down  on  its  back, 
and  with  its  long  claws  feizes  and  fuffocates  him. 

Couguar. — This  animal  is  called  by  fome  the  Puma,  or  Ameri- 
can Lion,  but  differs  fo  much  from  that  jioble  animal,  as  not  jto 
^  admit  of  any  comparifon.  Its  head  is  fmall,  it  has  no  name,  its 
length,  from  nofe  to  tail,  is  five  feet  three  inches,  the  tail  two 
feet.  The  predominant  colour  is  a  lively  red,  mixed  with  black, 
efpecially  on  the  back,  where  it  is  darkefh  :  its  chin,  its  threat, 
and  all  the  inferior  parts  of  the  body,  are  wliitifh  :  its  legs  are 
long,  claws  white,  and  the  outer  claw  of  the  fore  feet  much 
longer  than  the  others. 

It  is  found  in  many  parts  of  North-America,  from  Cana- 
da to  Florida  :  it  is  alfo  common  in  Guiana,  Brafil,  and  Mex- 
ico. 

It  is  fierce  and  ravenous  in  the  extreme,  and  will  fwim  rivers 
to  attack  cattle,  even  in  their  inclofures.  In  North-Americn, 
its  fury  feems  to  be  fubdued  by  the  rigour  of  the  climate,  for  it 
will  fly  from  a  dog  in  company  with  its  mailer,  and  take  fhelter 
by  running  up  a  tree. 

It  is  very  deftruftive  to  domeftic  animals,  particularly  to  Isogs. 
It  preys  alfo  upon  the  moofe  and  other  deer  ;  lies  Unking  upon 
the  branch  of  a  tree  till  fome  of  thefe  animals  pafs  underneatlj, 
when  it  drops  dov/n  upon  one  of  them,  and  never  quits  its 
hold  till  it  has  dr«nk  its  blood.  It  will  even  attack  bcafts  of 
prey.  ^ 

The  Couguar  of  Pennfylvania. — This  is  another  fpecies  of  cou- 
guar, found  in  the  temperate  tlimates  of  North-America,  as  on 
the  mountains  of  Carolina,  Georgia,  Pennfylvajilaj  and  the  ad- 
jacent provinces.  It  differs  much  from  the  couguar  above  dc- 
fcribed  :  his  limbs  are  fhorter,  his  body  much  longer,  an^  his 
tail  is  alfo  three  or  four  inches  longer^  But  in  the  colour  of 
the  hair,  and  the  form  of  the,  head  and  ears,  they  have  a  perfccl 
i:efemblance  to  each  other.  The  couguar  of  Pennfylvania,  vfays 
Mr.  Colinfon,  is  an  animal  remarkable  for  thinnefs  and  length 
of  body,  fhortnefs  of  legs,  and  kn|th  of  tail.  The  length  of 
the  body,  from  the  muzzle  to  the  anus,  is  five  feel  four  inches, 
and  that  of  the  tail  is  two  feet  fix  inches  : 'the  Tore  legs  arc 
one  foot  long,  and  the  hind  legs  one  foot  three  inches  :  the 
height  of  the  body  before  is  one  foot,  nine^.  inches,  and  one  foot 

y  y 


>  iG  o  Els  ERA  L  D£6C  RI  PTION 

icu   inches  beljiml  :  the   circumference  of  the  tliickeft.   part  of 
the  body  is  two  feet  three  inches. 

Black.  Couguar, — This  animal  differs  from  the  fiifl  we  have  de- 
Iciibci-I,  cJiiefly  in  the  colour,  which  is  duiky,  fometimcs  fpoc- 
led  with  bl.ick,  but  generally  plain.  The  throat,  belly,  and 
iju'idcs  of  the  legs,  are  of  a  pale  afli  colour,  the  upper  lip 
wliite,  covered  with  long  wh i fice rs  ;  above  each  eye  it  has  veiy 
long  hairs,  and  at  the  corner  of  the  mouth  a  black  ipot  ;  its  paws 
ore  wliile,  and  its  ears  iharp  pointed. 

It  grows  to  the  ii^e  of  a  heifer  of  a  year  old,  and  has  great 
hrength  in  its  fimbs. 

it  inhabits  Bralil  and  Guiana,  is  a  cruel  and  fierce  animal, 
n>uoh  dreaded  by  the  Indians  ;  but  fortunately  the  Ipecies  is  not 
numerous. 

Ocdoii — The  fkin  of  the  male  ocelot  is  cKtremely  beautiful, 
and  mod  cleginily  variegated.  Its  general  colour  is  that  of  ii 
bright  tawny  ;  a  black  flripe  extends  along  the  top  of  the  bark 
Jroni  head  to  tail  ;  iti  forehead  is  Ipoited  with  black,  as  are  alio 
Us  legs  ;  Its  uiuulders,  fides,  and  rump,  aie  beautifuHy  marbled 
with  long  {iiipcs  o\  black,  forming  oval  figures,  filled  in  the 
nnddle  witli  im  ill  bl  tck  Ipots  ;  its  tail  is  irregularly  marked  with 
large  Ipots,  and  black  jt  the  end.  The  colours  of  the  female 
are  not  lo  vivid  as  thole  of  tiie  m.ile,  neither  is  it  lo  beautifully 
marked. 

The  ocelot  very  much  refembles  the  common  cat  in  the 
form  of  us  body,  although  it  is  a  great  deal  larger.  BufiFon 
makes  its  iici^lu  two  feet  and  a  half,  and  about  four  feet  in 
length. 

It  13  a  native  of  South- America,  inhabits  Mexico  and  Brafii, 
i.s  very  voracious,  but  timid,  ancf  feldom  attacks  men  ;  it  is  afraid 
of  dogs,  and  when  purlued,  {lies  to  the  woods. 

It  livc-s  chieily  in  the  mountains,  and  conceals  itfelf  amongd 
the  leaves  of  trees,  from  whence  it  darts  upon  luch  animals  as 
come  within  its  reach.  It  lomctimes  extend*  itlelf  along  the 
boughs,  as  if  it  were  dead,  till  the  monkies,  tempted  by  their 
natural  curiohty,  ajj^roach  within  its  reach.  It  is  laid  to  prefer 
llie  blood  of  annuals  to  their  ilclh, 

Murray. — This  is  another  beautiful  animal  of  the  fpotted 
tribe,  and  known  in  many  places  by  the  name  of  the  Tiger  Cat, 
The  ground  ccjlour  of  the  body  is  tawny;  the  face  is  llriped 
with  black;  the  body  is  marked  with.ilripes  and  large  fpota 
of  black  ;  tii£.  bread  and  in  fide  of  the  legs  are  white,  fpotted 
with  black  ;  the  tail  is  long,  miuked  with  alternate  fpots  of 
blm.k,  tuWiiV,  'ind  ^rey. 


OF  AMERICAN  OlIADRUPEDS.  347 

The  margay  is  fmaller  (lian  the  ocelot,  and  about  the  fiz« 
of  tlie  wild  cat,  which  it  tefembles  in  dilpohtion  and  habit, 
living  on  fmall  animals,  birds,  &c. — It  is  very  wild,  and  cannot 
eafily  be  brought  under  lubjeftion. 

Its  colours  vary,  though  they  are  generally  fuch  as  have  been 
delcribed. 

It  is  common  in  Guiana,  Brafil,  and  various  parts  of  South 
and  North-America. 

It  is  called  the  Cayninc  Cat,  and  is  not  fo  frequent  in  tempe- 
rate as  in  warm  climates. 

Lynx. — This  animal  differs  greatly  from  every  animal  of  the 
cat  kind  we  have  hitherto  defcribed.  Its  cars  are  long  and  ere^t-, 
tufted  at  the  end  with  long  black,  hairs,  by  which  this  fpecies 
of  animals  is  peculiarly  diftinguifhed  :  tlie  hair  of  the  body  is 
long  and  foft,  of  a  red-afli  colour,  marked  with  dulky  Ipots, 
which  differ  according  to  the  age  of  the  creature  ;  lometime» 
they  are  fcarcely  vifible  ;  its  legs  and  feet  are  very  thick  and 
flrong  ;  its  tail  fhort,  and  black  at  the  extremity  ;  its  eyes  are  of 
a  pale-yellow  colour  ;  and  its  alpeft  lofter  and  Icis  ferocious  than 
that  of  the  panther  or  the  ounce.  The  Ikin  of  the  mals  is  more 
fpotted  than  that  of  the  female. 

The  fur  is  valuable  for  its  foftnefs  and  warmth,  and  is  im- 
ported in  great  quantities  from  America  and  the  north  of 
Europe.  In  the  United  States  there  are  three  kinds  of  the 
lynx,  each  probably  forming  a  .diftinft  fpecies.  The^-^.y'?  f  Lupus 
Cervarhis,  Linn.  3d  edit.)  i?  called  by  the  French  and  Engiifti 
Americans,  Loup  Cervier*  He  is  from  two  and  a  lialf  to  three 
feet  in  length  ;  his  tail  is  about  five  inches.  His  hair  is  long, 
of  a  light  grey  colour,  forming,  in  fome  places,  ImaU,  irregulai, 
dark  fhades ;  the  end  of  his  tail  is  black;  his  fur  is  fine  ana 
thick.  He  is  the  lynx  of  Siberia  and  lome  of  the  northern 
parts  of  Europe.  A  few  may  be  found  in  the  north-eafteru 
parts  of  the  diftrift  of  Maine  ;  but  in  the  higher  latitudes  they 
are  more  numerous. 

The  focond^  fCatus  Cirvarlvs,  Linn.)  is  called  by  the  French 
Americans,  Chat  Cervier  i  and  in  New  Enghind  the  wildcat. 
He  is  confiderably  lels  than  the  former,  or  the  Loup  Cervier^ 
He  is  from  two  to  two  feet  and  a  half  long  ;  his  tail  is  prupor- 
tionably  fhorter,  about  three  inches  long,  and  wants  the  tu*t 
of  black  hair  on  the  end  of  it.  His  hair  is  fhorter,  particularly 
on  his  legs  and  feet  ;  is  of  a  darker  colour,  brown,  dark  lallovv 

*   Pronounced  Loocervpc. 

Yy  2 


548  GENERAL    DESCRI PTION 

and  grey,  varioufly  intermixed.  His  fur  is  faid  to  be  of  a 
'Very  different  quality  ;  }>is  ears  are  fhorter,  and  he  has  very 
little  of  the  pencil  of  black  hairs  on  the  tips  of  them,  which 
is  fo  remarkable  in  the  former  kind.  This  animal  deftroyed 
manv  of  the  cattle  of  the  firfl.  fettlers  of  New-Enrland. 

The  third  fpecies  is  about  the  fize  of  a  comrnon  cat.  The 
colour  of  the  male  is  a  bright  brown  or  bay,*  with  black  fpots 
on  his    legs.      His  tail   is  about  four   inches  long,  and   encircled 

by   eight    white  rings  :   the   female    is    of  a    reddifn    "rey. • 

Found  in  the  middle  and  fouthern  States, 

To  ilie  above  lift  of  animals  of  the  cat  kind  we  muftadd  the 
Kincajou. — This  animal,  Mr.  Morfe  obfervc;,  belongs  to  the 
fainily  of  cats  ;  at  leaft,  he  very  much  refemiiies  them.  He 
is  about  as  large  as  a  common  cat,  and  is  better  formed  for 
agility  and.  Ipccd  than  for  fi.rength.  His  tail  gradually  tapers 
to  the  end,  and  is  as  long  as  his  whole  body.  His  colour  is 
yellow.  Between  him  and  the  fox  there  is  perpetual  war. 
He  hunts  in  the  fame  manner  as  do  other  animals  of  that  clals  ; 
but  being  able  to  fufpend  himfelf  by  twining  the  end  of  his 
tail  round  the  limb  of  a  tree,  or  the  like,  he  can  purfue  his 
prey  where  other  cats  cannot  "}  and  when  he  attacks  a  large 
animal,  his  tail  enables  him  to  fccure  his  hold  till  he  can  open 
the  blood  veffcls  of  the  neck.  In  fome  parts  of  Canada  thefe 
animals  arc  very  numerous,  and  make  great  havoc  among  the 
deer,  and  do  not  Ipare  even  the  neat  cattle  ;  but  we  have  heard 
of  none  in  the  United  States,  except  a  few  in  the  northern 
parts  of  New-Hampfhire. 

Beaver.- — The  leaver  is  the  mod  induftrious  of  all  animals^ 
Its  labours  Iccm  the  relult  of  ?.  focial  compaft,  formed  for  mu- 
tu-il  convenience,  prciervation  and  lupport  ;  and  as,  in  all  well- 
regulated  focictie.s,  a  due  lubordination  is  necefTary  for  the  well- 
ordering  and  ccndu£ting  each  individual  efiort  to  the  advan- 
tage of  the  whole  ;  lo,  amongft  theie  curious  animals,  we  End 
that,  in  iornuug  their  habitations,  all  have  their  proper  part 
of  the  woik  aihgned  to  them,  that,  by  dividing  their  labours, 
fafcty,  ftability  and  expedition,  may  be  the  general  effect.  To 
this  purpole,  a  community  of  two  or  three  hundred  affemble 
together  :  an  ovei leer  is  chofcn,  whole  orders  aie  punftunlly 
obeyed  ;  aiid,  by  ftriking  the  water  fmaidy  with  his  tail, 
gives  tlie  hgnal  where  the  united  force  of  numbers  is  ne- 
ceil^ry  to  be  applied,  in  order  to  flrenglhen  or  lupport  the 
fabric  ;  or,  at  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  to  apprize  the  iociety 
of  their  danger.  As  loon  as  a  convenient  place  is  choien  for 
the  ereftiou  of  their  building,  which  is  generally  a  level  piecs 


CF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS,  349 

of  gi'ound  with  a  fmall  rivulet  running  through  it,  they  divide 
into  companies  :  feme  are  employed  in  cutting  down  trees  of 
great  fize,  which  is  done  by  gnawing  them  with  their  teeth  ; 
thele  they  lay  acrofs  the  dam  with  furprifing  labour  and  per- 
feverance,  or  form  into  piles,  which  others  roll  down  to  the 
water,  where  they  make  holes  at  the  bottem  for  receiving  the 
ends,  and  placing  them  upright,  fecure  them  in  that  pofition  ; 
whilft  another  party  is  engaged  in  coUefting  twigs,  interweav- 
ing and  twiftihg  them  with  the  piles,  and  thereby  ftrengthening 
the  work  :  fome  collefl  large  quantities  of  earth,  ftones,  clay 
and  other  folid  materials,  which  they  diipole  of  on  the  upper 
fide  of  the  piles  next  the  flream,  forming  a  mound  ten  or 
twelve  feet  thick  at  the  bottom,  tapering  gradually  upwards, 
and  capable  of  fuftaining  a  confiderable  weight  of  water.  The 
length  of  the  dam,  occahoned  by  this  means,  is  fometimes  not 
lefs  than  one  hundred  feet.  Having  completed  the  mole,  their 
next  care  is  to  eieft  their  apartments,  which  are  built  on  piles  ; 
they  are  of  a  circular  form,  and  generally  confift  of  two  ftories, 
about  eight  feet  high  above  the  water  ;  the  firft  lies  below  the 
level  of  the  dam,  and  is  generally  full  of  water  ;  the  other 
above  it.  The  walls  are  two  feet  in  thicknefs,  neatly  plaiilered 
with  clay  on  the  infide,  which  is  arched  like  an  oven,  and  at 
the  top  refembles  a  dome.  In  each  houfe  there  are  two  open- 
ings, one  towards  the  water,  to  which  the  animal  has  always 
accefs,  in  cafe  of  furprife  ;  the  other  towards  the  land,  by 
which  it  goes  out  in  queft  of  food.  The  number  of  houfes  in 
one  of  thefe  dams  is  from  ten  to  twenty-five,  fome  of  them 
large  enough  to  contain  a  family  of  twenty  or  thirty  beavers. 
Each  beaver  forms  its  bed  of  mofs  ;  and  each  family  lays  in  its 
magazine  of  winter  provifion,  which  confifts  of  bark  and 
boughs  of  trees  :  they  pile  up  the  latter  with  great  ingenuity 
and  regularity,  and  draw  it  out  to  their  apartments  as  their 
wants  require.  They  are  faid  to  be  fondeft  of  the  lalfafras,  afli, 
and  fweet  gum.  During  fummer,  they  feed  on  leaves,  fruits 
and  fometimes  crabs  or  cray-filh  ;  but  fifh  is  not  their  favourite 
food.  Their  time  of  building  is  early  in  the  fummer.  In 
winter,  they  never  go  farther  than  to  their  provifion  flores,  and, 
during  that  feafon,  are  very  fat. 

They  breed  once  a  year,  and  bring  forth  two  or  three  at  a 
birth. 

Beavers  are  found  chiefly  in  the  northern  parts  of  Europe, 
Afia   and  America  ;  particularly   the  latter,  from  whence  many 


35©  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

thoufancls  of  their  fkins  are  annually  brought  into  Euro-ne, 
They  vary  in  colour  ;  the  moft  valuable  are  black  with  a  deep 
fur;  but  the  general  colour  is  a  chefnut  brown,  more  or  lei's 
dark.  Some  have  been  found  entirely  white,  others  fnotted ; 
but  both  thefe  kinds  are  very  rare. 

The  beaver  is  remarkable  for  the  fize  and  flrength  of  its 
cutting  t^eth,  which  enable  it  to  gnaw  down  trees  of  great 
magnitude  with  cafe.  Its  ears  are  fhort,  arid  almofl  hid  in  the 
fur  ;  its  nofe  blunt,  tail  broad  and  flat,  nearly  of  an  oval  form, 
and  covered  with  fcales  ;  it  lerves  not  only  as  a  rudder  to  direft 
its  motions  in  the  water,  but  as  a  moft  ufeful  inftrument  for 
laying  on  the  clay,  prefling  it  into  the  crevices,  and  fmoothing 
the  outward  covering ;  its  fore  feet  are  Imall,  and  not  unlike 
thofe  of  a  rat;  the  hind  feet  are  large  and  flrong,  with  mem- 
branes between  each  toe;  its  length,  from  nofe  *'">  tail,  is 
about  three  feet  ;  the  tail  is  eleven  inches  long,  and  three 
broad. 

The  caftor  produced  from  thefe  animals  is  found  in  a  liquid 
ftate,  in  bags  near  the  anus,  about  the  fize  of  an  egg.  When 
taken  off,  the  matter  dries,  and  is  reducible  to  a  powder,  which 
is  oily,  of  a  (harp  bitter  tafte,  and  a  ftrong  difagreeable  fmell, 
Thefe  bags  are  found  indifferently  in  males  and  females,  and 
were  formerly  fuppofed  to  be  the  animal's  tefticles  ;  which,  when 
purfued,  it  was  laid  to  bite  off,  and  by  that  means  efcape  with 
its  life. 

The  Otter. — Although  the  otter  is  not  confidered  by  natural, 
iffs  as  wholly  amphibious,  it  is  neverthelefs  caplable  of  remainin*; 
a  confiderable  time  under  water,  and  can  purfue  and  take  its 
prey  in  that  element  with  great  facilitv. 

Its  legs  are  very  fhort,  but  remarkably  flrong,  broad  and 
mufcular ;  on  each  foot  are  five  toes,  connected  by  ftrong  mem- 
branes, like  ihofe  of  water  fowlj  its  head  is  broad,  of  an  oval 
form,  and  flat  on  the  upper  part  ;  the  bod)'  is  long  and  round, 
and  the  tail  tapers  to  a  point  :  the  eyes  are  brilliant,  and  placed 
in  fuch  a  manner,  that  the  animal  can  fee  every  objeft  that 
is  above  it,  which  gives  it  a  fingular  afpeft,  very  much  rc- 
fembling  an  eel  or  an  afp  :  the  ears  are  fliort  and  their  orifice 
narrow. 

The  colour  of  the  otter  is  of  a  deep  brown,  with  two  fmall 
light  fpots  on  each  fide  of  the  nofe,  and  another  under  the 
chin. 

This  animal  makes  its  ncft  in  fome  retired  fpot  by  the  fide 
oF  a  like  or  river,  under  a  bank,  where  it  has  an  ealy  and 
fccure    accefs  to   the    water,   to  which  it  immediatf-ly    flies  upon 


OF  AMERICAN  Q^UADRUPEDS.  351 

the  leaft  alarm ;  and,    as   it    Iwims    with   great   rapidity,   gene- 
rally  elcapes    from    its    puriuers. 

It  deflroys  great  quantities  of  fifli,  and,  in  purfuit  of  its 
prey,   has  been   obferved.  commonly  to  fvvim  again  ft  the   ftream. 

As  loon  as  the  otter  has  caught  a  fifli,  It  immediately  drags 
it  to  the  Ihore,  devours  a  part  as  far  as  the  vent,  and,  unlels 
preffed  by  extreme  hunger,  always  leaves  the  remainder,  and 
takes  to  the  water  in  quell  of  more. 

Otters  arp  generally  taken  in  traps  placed  near  their  landing 
places,  where  they  are  carefully  concealed  in  the  fand.  Whea 
hunting  with  dogs,  the  old  ones  defend  themfelves  with  great 
obftinacy  ;  they  bite  feverely,  and  do  not  readily  quit  their 
hold  where  they  have  once  faftened.  An  old  otter  will  never 
give  up  while  it  has  life,  nor  make  the  leaft  complaint  though 
wounded  ever  fo  much  by  the  dogs,  nor  even  when  transfixed 
with   a   Ipear. 

Otters  are  found  in  moft  parts  of  the  world,  \vith  no  great 
variation.  They  are  numerous  in  North- America,  and  are 
common  in  Guiana,  frequenting  the  rivers  and  marfhes  of 
that  country.  They  are  fometimes  feen  in  great  numbers 
together,  and  are  fo  fierce,  that  it  is  dangerous  to  come  near 
them.  They  live  in  holes,  which  they  make  in  the  banks  of 
the  rivers. 

The  otters  of  Cayenne  are  very  lirge,  weighing  from 
ninety  to  one  hundred  pounds.  They  frequent  the  large 
rivers  of  that  country  ;  their  cry  is  loud,  and  may  be  heard 
at  a  great  diftance  :  they  are  of  a  dark  brown  colour^  their 
iur  is  lliorter  than  that  of  the  beaver,   and  very  foft. 

Befrde  thefe  there  is  an  animal  called  The  Sea  Otter. — Vaft 
numbers  of  thefe  animals  inhabit  the  coaft  of  Kamtlchatka,  and 
the  numerous  iflands  contiguous  to  it,  as  well  as  the  oppofite 
coafts  of  America ;  they  are  alfo  found  in  fome  of  the  larger 
rivers  of  South-America. 

Their  Ikins  are  of  great  value,  and  have  long  formed  a  con- 
fiderable  article  of  expoic  from  Ruftia.  They  difpofe  of  them 
to  the  Chinele  at  the  rate  of  feventy  or  a  hundred  rubles 
each,  and  receive  in  return  fome  of  their  moft  valuable  com- 
modities. 

The  fur  of  the  fea  otter  is  thick  and  long,  of  a  beautiful 
fliiuing  black  colour,  but  fometirnes  of  a  filvery  hue  ;  the  legs 
are  thick  and  Ihort  ;  the  toes  joined  by  a  web  ;  the  hind  feet 
like  thofe  of  a  feal ;  length,  from  nofe,  to  tail,  four  feet 
two  inches  ;  tail  thirteen,  flat  and  pointed  at  the  end  ;  the 
iargeft  of  them  weigh  from  feventy  to  eighty  pounds. 


j5a  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

The  fea  otter  is  remarkably  harmlcfs,  and  moft  affeftionate- 
ly  fond  oF  its  young  ;  it  will  pine  to  death  for  its  lofs,  and 
die  on  the  very  fpot  where  it  has  been  taken  away.  Before 
its  young  can  fwim,  it  will  carry  it  in  its  paws,  and  fuppbrt  it 
in  the  water,  laying  upon  its  back.  It  fwims  in  various  po- 
litions,  on  its  back,  fides,  and  even  in  a  perpendicular  pofture, 
and  in  the  water  is  very  fportive.  Two  of  them  are  fome- 
times  feen  embracing  each  other.  It  frequents  fhallow  places 
abounding  with  fea  weed,  and  feeds  on  lobfters,  crabs,  and 
other  fhell  fivh. 

It  breeds  but  once  a  yaar,  and  produces  one  young  at  a  time, 
which  it  fuckles  and  carefully  attends  almoft  a  year. 

The  flefh  of  a  young  otter  is  reckoned  delicate  eating,  and 
not  eafily  diftingulfhed  from  that   of  a  lamb. 

The  Wcafel  is  about  nine  inches  in  lengtii  ;  his  body  is  re- 
markably round  and  flender  ;  his  tail  long  and  well  futnilhcd 
with  hair  ;  his  legs  very  fliort  and  his  toes  armed  \vith  fliarp 
claws.  His  hair  is  fhort  and  thick,  and  of  a  pale  yellowifn 
colour,  except  about  the  breaft,  where  it  is  white.  This  is  a 
very  fprightly  animal  ;  notwithflanding  the  fhortnefs  of  its 
?egs,  it  feems  to  dart  rather  than  to  run.  He  kills  and  eats  rats, 
ftriped  fquirrils,  and  other  fmall  quadrupeds  :  he  likewife  kills 
fowls,  fucks  their  blood,  and  efteems  their  eggs  a  delicacy. 
He  is  found  at  Hudfon's  bay,  Newfoundland,  and  as  far  as 
South  Carolina. 

Stoatj  or  Eri!iine.——\t  does  not  differ  materially  from  the 
aveafel  in  fize,  form  or  habits  ;  even  his  colour  is  the  fame  in 
fummer,  except  that  the  end  of  his  tail  is  black,  and  the  edges 
of  his  ears  and  toes  are  white.  In  winter  Jie  is  entirely  white, 
except  the  tip  of  the  tail.  He  is  generally  confidered  as  form- 
ing a  fpccics  didinft  from  the  weafel  ;  but  Linnaeus  makes 
them  the  fame.  They  are  faid  to  be  found  in  the  fame  places  as 
the  farmer,  and  Mr.  Belknap  mentions,  that  a  few  have  been 
ften  in  New-Hampfliire. 

In  addition  to  the  preceding,  America  has  anotlier  variety 
of  this  family,  which  appears  to  differ  from  the  weaicl  in  no 
refpeft  except  in  its  colour,  which  is  perfeftly  white  both  in 
fummer  and  winter. 

Martin. — This  animal  is  called  the  martin  fMarteJ  by  M.  de 
Buffdn  ;  in  England  the  pine  martin,  fir  martin,  yellow-breaft- 
cd  martin,  piae  weafel,  and  yellow-breafled  weafel;  in  New- 
Kngland  the  lable  ;  and  by  the  Indians  Wauppanaugh.  He 
xs>  fojmed  like  the  weaicl ;  is  generally  about  fixteeri  inches  long, 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  353 

and  is  of  a  fallow  colour  ;  but  his  fize,  and  the  flindes  of  his 
colour,  vary  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  Some  have 
fpots  of  yellow  on  the  breaft,  others  of  white,  and  others 
have  none.  He  keeps  in  forefls  chiefly  on  trees,  and  lives 
by  hunting.  He  is  found  in  the  northern  parts  of  North- 
America  quite  to  the  South  lea  ;  his  fkin  is  exceeding  valua- 
ble. 

Mink. — The  mink  is  about  as  large  as  a  martin,  and  of  the 
fame  form.  The  hair  on  its  tail  is  fhorter ;  its  colour  is  gene- 
rally black,  and  its  fur  coarfer ;  fome  have  a  white  fpot  under 
their  throats,  others  have  none.  They  burrow  in  the  ground, 
and  purfue  their  prey  both  in  frefh  and  fait  water.  Thofe 
which  frequent  the  fait  water  are  of  a  larger  fize,  lighter  colour, 
and  have  inferior  fur.  They  are  found  in  confiderable  numbers 
both  in  the  fouthern  and  northern  States,  and  in  general 
wherever  the  martin  is  found. 

Fipier. — In  Canada  he  is  called  pekan,  and  in  the  American 
States  frequently  the  black  cat,  but  improperly,  as  he  does  not 
belong  to  the  clais  of  cats.  He  has  a  general  refemblance  to 
the  martin,  but  is  confiderably  larger,  being  from  twenty  to 
twenty-four  inches  in  length,  and  twelve  in  circumference. 
His  tail  is  a  little  more  than  half  its  length  ;  its  hair  long 
and  bufhy  :  his  fore  legs  about  four  inches  and  a  half  long, 
his  hinder  legs  fix  inches  ;  his  ears  fhort  and  round.  His 
colour  is  black,  except  the  head,  neck  and  flioulders,  which 
are  a  dark  grey.  He  lives  by  hunting,  and  occafionally  pur- 
lues  his  prey  in  the  water.  Found  in  the  northern  States, 
Canada,  and  Hudfon's  bay.  Of  each  of  the  animals  we 
have  mentioned  under  this  divifion,  there  are  feveral  vari- 
eties which  have  obtained  different  names,  as  the  pekan, 
vifon,    &c. 

Skunk. — This  animal  is  about  a  foot  and  a  half  long,  of  a 
moderate  height  and  fize.  His  tail  is  long  and  bufhy  :  his  hair 
long  and  chiefly  black  ;  but  on  his  head,  neck  and  back,  is 
found  more  or  lefs  of  white,  without  any  regularity  or  uni- 
formity. He  appears  to  fee  but  indifferently  when  the  fun 
fliines,  and  therefore  in  the  day  time  keeps  clofe  to  his  burrow. 
As  foon  as  the  twilight  commences  he  goes  in  queft  of  his  food, 
which  is  principally  beetles  and  other  infefts  ;  he  is  alio  very 
fond  of  eggs  and  young  chickens.  His  flefh  is  faid  to  be  t  )le- 
rably  good,  and  his  fat  is  fometimes  uied  as  an  emollient.  But 
what  renders  this  animal  remarkable  is,  his  being  furnifhed 
with  organs  for  fecreting  and  retaining  a  liquor,  volatile  and 
f«e:id  beyond  any  thing   known,  and  which   he    has  the  power 

Z  z 


354  C  £  A'  E  RA  L    D  ESC  RI  PTIO  N 

of  eT.ittin^  to  the  diiltiice  of  a  rod  or  more,  when  necefTcfiV 
for  his  tlcfencr.  ^^'he^  this  ammunition  is  expended  he  is 
quite  h<innleis.'''  This  vol.iiile  fcctor  is  a  powerful  antifpal- 
iTiodic,  This  animvl  is  found  in  ail  parts  of  America  from 
Hadf'on's  hay  to  Peru. 

There  aie  three  or  four  vnrieries  mentioned  hy  M.  BufFon 
Tindrr  tlfc  na:7:e  of  the  SiinkinT  Fplaats,  all  of  u'l-iich  pofTefs 
♦  h'S  wonderful  quality  of  annoying  their  enemies  froin  the  lairc 
q'nrter. 

Soitie  turn  their  tail  to  their  puriuers,  and  emit  a  ir.oft  hor- 
jihle  flench,  which  keeps  bo;li  dogs  and  men  't  a  coiiiidcrabls 
«ii(l;ince.  Otheis  cjecl  their  urine  to  the  diftance  of  feveral 
fee.t,  and  it  is  of  io  virulent  a  quality,  as  ahnoft  to  occafion 
blindneis,  if  any  of  it  ihould  happen  fo  fdU  inio  the  eyes. 
C  l.ithes  infected  witii  it  retain  the  linell  fur  in-uiy  d-iys  :  no 
wiifning  can  make  them  fwect,  but  the^'  muil  be  even  buried  in 
frefh  loil  before  they  can  be  thoroughly  cie;iufed.  Dogs  th:it 
arc  not  properly  bred  turn  back  as  loon  as  they  perceive  the 
imcl!  ;  tli'iif,  thnt  have  been  accuftomcd  to  it  will  kdl  the  ani- 
mal, but  are  obliged  to  relieve  ihemlclves  by  thruftiug  their 
noics  into  the  ground. 


*  Concerning  tlic  Atnerican  fkunk,  Dr.  Mitchell,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Pof}.- 
31788,  ^vrites  thus  :  "  N'ot  long  fince  I  had  an  opporuinity  to  diiFecl  the  Ame- 
rican fkuiik,  il-'rena  pnti<rus,  Linn  )  The  moft  remarkable  appearances,  on 
exainination,  were  the  following;  the  Ikin  was  exceedir.gly  lax,  infomach  th:-. t 
■v/lien  pulled  av/ay  from  tha  fubjacent  membrane,  the  hairs,  in  many  places  drawn 
through  it,  were  left  rooted  in  the  fat ;  the  urine  polTeflfed  no  more  foetor  than 
is  common  to  that  excrerfieniitious  fluid  in  many  other  animals  ;  but  the  pecu-< 
liar  odor!f<Ti)i;3  fubftance,  which  the  creature  emits  when  puifued,  proceeds 
from  two  lacks,  each  capable  of  containing  about  half  an  ounce,  fittiated  a:  the 
exifeini;y  f»f  the  inlcjli'wn  rcSlum,  and  furrounded  by  lr.rge  and  ftrong  circular 
mafcles,  whicli  conirafling  by  voluntary  ex.ertioii,  force  out  the  thick  yellowifh 
liquor  through  two  duels,  opening  near  the  verge  of  the  anus.  As  the  animal 
is  neit.h^'r  f'.vift  nor  llrong,  this  feems  to  have  been  given  it  as  a  defcnct^  agair.ll 
its  enemies,  on  whofe  approach  the  volatile  matter  is  difcharged  with  confi- 
dsrablc  force,  and  to  no  fmall  dilbnce.  From  its  analogy  to  mulk,  ambergris, 
civet  and  caftor,  I  am  ftrongly  inclined  to  think  it  might  be  with  advantage 
rmkcd  among  the  antifpafmodici  ol  the  Materia  Mcdica,  or  eluded  wiih  drugs 
in  tlie  {hops  of  perfumers. 

"  A  fimilir  fubihiice,  although  not  fo  abundant  and  fragrnnt,  I  liave  like- 
wife  found  in  boiji*  of  the  fa:ne  kind,  wlicn  I  diffefted  the  common  weafel, 
[MaflcUi  vii'iiii-n)  which,  in  all  probability,  will  be  found  to  poiTefs  virtue* 
not  much  differing  from  the  fpoduar,  or  liquor  of  the  vivcrra,  or  the  American 
f^unk. 

"  The  mufquafli,  {Cajlor  nufratus)  which  I  have  alfo  dilfeCled,  has  no  lacks  of 
t^iis  kind,  and  therefore  I  am  forcibly  led  to  fufpect  that  its  odour  rcfides  in  the 
cuticular  exhalaiits  and  pcrfpircd  matter." 


OF  A  M  ERIC  A. \  O^UAt)RUPEDS.  355 

The  StiJUng,  or  Sqiiajh,  which  is  tlie  fecond  variety,  is 
nearly  of  the  lame  fize  with  the  flvunk  ;  its  hair  is  long  and  of  a 
deep  brown  colour  ;  it  lives  in  holes  and  clefts  of  rocks,  wliere 
the  female  brings  forth  her  young:  it  is  a  native  of  Mexico, 
and  feeds  on  beetles,  worms  and  Inull  birds  :  it  deftroys  poul- 
try, of  which  it  only  eats  the  brains.  When  afraid  or  irritated 
it  voids  the  lame  oflcnfivc  kind  of  odour,  which  no  creature 
dar£  venture  to  approach.  ProfelTor  Kalm  was  in  danger  of 
being  fuffocated  by  one  that  was  purlucd  into  a  houfc  where  he 
liept  ;  and  it  afl'eiled  the  cattle  10  much,  that  thev  bellowed 
through  pain.  Another,  which  was  killed  by  a  maid-fervant 
in  a  cellar,  lo  affefted  her  with  its  flench,  that  fne  lay  ill  for 
ieveral  days:  all  the  provifions  that  weie  in  the  places  were  fo 
tainted  with  the  fmell,  as  to  be  utterly  unfit  for  ul'e.  This  is 
ihe  coaffe  of  Bufton.   of  which  we  have  given  the  fi-^ure. 

Another  variety  is  called  the  Concpate  ;  it  is  fomewhat  iinallerj 
and  differs  chiefly  from  the  Iquafh  in  being  maiked  with  five 
parallel  white  lines,  which  run  along  its  back  and  fides  from 
head  to  tail. 

It  is  a  native  of  North-America.  Wjicn  attacked  it  briftles 
up  its  hair,  throws  itlelf  into  a  round  form,  and  emits  an  odour 
which  no  creature  can  iupport. 

The  lafl  of  this  pelliferous  family  which  we  Ihall  mention  is 
the 

Zorilii, — This  animal  is  a  native  of  New-Spam,  where  it  is 
called  the  mariputa  :  it  is  found  on  the  baulks  of  the  river 
Oronoque  ;  and,  although  extremely  beautiful,  is  at  the  fame 
time  the  mofl  ofFenfive  of  all  creatures.  Its  body  is  beautifully 
marked  with  white  ftripes  upon  a  black  giound,  running  from 
the  head  to  the  middle  of  the  back  ;  from  whence  they  are  croL 
I'ed  with  otlier  white  bands,  which  cover  the  lower  part  ot  the 
back  and  flanks  :  its  tail  is  long  and  bufliy,  black  as  iar  as  the 
middle  and  white  to  its  extremity  ;  it  is  an  a6live  and  mifchicv- 
ous  little  anunal  :  its  liench  is  laid  to  extend  fo  a  coniiderable 
difiancc,  and  is  fo  powerful  as  to  overcome  even  the  panther  of 
America,    which  is  one  of  its  greatefl  enemies. 

Notwiihftandiiig  this  oifcnhve  quality  in  thefe  animals,  they 
are  frequently  tamed,  and  will  follow  their  mafter.  They  do 
not  emit  then-  odour,  unleis  when  beaten  or  irritated.  They 
are  frequently  killed  by  the  native  Indians,  wiio  immediately 
cut  away  the  noxious  glands,  thereby  preventing  the  flefli, 
which  is  good  eating  from  being  inlected.  Its  tafte  is  laid 
neaily  to  relemble  the  flavour  of  a  young  pig.  The  favage 
Indians  make  purles  of  the  fls.ins. 

Z  Z     2 


S56  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

The  Coati,  or  Brazilian  Wtajd. — This  animal  has  fome  refem- 
blance  to  the  bear,  in  the  length  of  its  hind  legs,  in  the  form  of 
its  feet,  in  the  bufhinefs  of  its  hair,  and  in  the  flrufture  of  its 
paws.  It  is  fmall  ;  its  tail  is  long,  and  variegated  with  different 
colours  ;  its  upper  jaw  is  much  longer  than  the  lower,  and  very 
pliant  ;  its  ears  are  rounded  ;  its  hair  is  fmooth,  foft  and  gloffy, 
of  a  bright  bay  colour  ;  and  its  breaft  is  whitifh. 

It  inhabits  Brafil  and  Guiana,  runs  up  trees  very  nimbly,  eats 
like  a  dog,  and  holds  its  food  between  its  fore  legs  like  a  bear. 

The  Coati  (lands  with  eafe  on  its  hind  feet.  It  is  faid  to  k4iaw 
its  own  tail,  which  it  generally  carries  ereft,  and  fweeps  it  about 
from  fide  to  fide, 

AN'IMALS    OF    THE     BADGER    KIND. 

The  common  European  badger  is  the  only  one  found  in  Ame- 
rica ;  for  the  animal  of  this  genus,  defcribed  as  a  different  fpecies, 
and  called  the  American  badger,  is  nothing  more  than  a  variation 
of  the  former.  It  is  found  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hudfon's 
bay  and  Canada,  as  likewife  in  fome  of  the  United  States,  but 
does  not  appear  to  be  numerous. 

ANIMALS    OF    THE    OPPOSSUM    KIND, 

Virginian  Oppojfum. — This  animal  has  a  long  fharp  pointed 
nole  ;  large,  round,  naked,  and  very  thin  ears,  black,  edged  with 
pure  white,  fmall,  black,  lively  eyes  ;  long  fliff  hairs  each  fide 
the  nofe,  and  behind  the  eyes  ;  face  covered  with  fhort  foft 
white  hairs  ;  fpace  round  the  eyes  dufky  ;  neck  very  Ihort,  its 
fides  of  a  dirty  yellow  ;  hind  part  of  the  neck  and  the  back  co- 
vered with  a  hair  above  two  inches  long,  foft  but  uneven,  the 
bottoms  of  a  yellowifh  white,  middle  part  black,  ends  whitifh  ; 
fides  covered  with  dirty  and  dufky  hairs,  belly  with  foft,  woolly, 
dirty  white  hair  ;  legs  and  thighs  black  ;  feet  dufky  ;  claws 
white  ;  bale  of  the  tale  clothed  with  long  hairs  like  thofe  on  the 
back  ;  reft  of  the  rail  covered  with  fmall  fcilef,  the  half  next  the 
body  black,  the  tefl  white  ;  it  has  a  dil<igieeable  appearance, 
looking  like  the  body  of  a  fnake,  and  has  the  fame  prehenfile 
quality  as  that  of  fome  monkies  ;  body  round  and  very  thick  ; 
legs  fliort  ;  on  the  lower  part  of  the  belly  of  the  female  is  a 
large  pouch,  in  which  the  teats  are  lodged,  and  where  the  young 
fliclier  as  loon  as  they  are  born. 

The  ufual  length  of  the  animal  is,  from  the  tip  of  the  nofe  to  the 
bale  of  the  tail,  about  twenty  inches  ;  of  the  tail  twelve  inches. 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  357 

Inhabits  Virginia,  Louifiana,  Mexico,  Brafil  and  F;ru  ;  is  very 
deflruftive  to  poultry,  aud  fucks  the  blood  without  eating  the 
flefli  ;  feeds  alfo  on  roots  and  wild  fruits  ;  is  very  aftive  in  climb- 
ing trees,  will  hang  fufpended  from  the  branches  by  its  tail,  and, 
by  fwinging  its  body,  fling  itfelf  among  the  boughs  of  the  neigh- 
bouring trees  ;  continues  frequently  hanging  with  its  head 
downwards  ;  hunts  eagerly  after  birds  and  their  nefts  ;  walks 
very  flow  ;  when  purfued  and  overtaken  will  feign  itfelf  dead  ; 
not  eafily  killed,  being  as  tenacious  of  life  as  a  cat  ;  when  the 
female  is  about  to  bring  forth,  flic  makes  a  thick  nefk  of  dry  grafs 
in  fome  clofe  bufii  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  and  brings  four,  five  or 
fix  young  at  a  time. 

As  foon  as  the  young  are  brought  forth  they  take  fhelter  in 
the  pouch,  or  falfe  belly,  and  faften  fo  clofely  to  the  teats,  as 
not  to  be  feparated  without  difficulty  ;  they  are  blind,  naked, 
and  very  fmall  when  new-born,  and  refemble  Jaetufes  j  it  is 
therefore  neceffary  that  they  fliould  continue  there  till  they  at- 
tain a  perfeft  fhape,  fhrength,  fight  and  hair,  and  are  prepared 
to  undergo  what  may  be  called  a  fecond  birth  ;  after  which 
they  run  into  this  pouch  as  into  an  afylum  in  time  of  danger, 
and  the  parent  carries  them  about  with  her.  During  the  time 
of  this  fecond  geftation,  the  female  fliews  an  excefTive  attach- 
ment to  her  young,  and  will  fuffer  any  torture  rather  than  per- 
mit this  receptacle  to  be  opened,  for  fhe  has  power  of 
opening  or  clofing  it  by  the  afliflance  of  fome  very  ftrong 
mufcles. 

The  flefii  of  the  old  animals  is  very  good,  like  that  of  a  fuck- 
ing pig  ;  the  hair  is  dyed  by  the  Indian  women,  and  wove  into 
garters  and   girdles  ;  the  fkin  is  very  foetid. 

Murine  Cppojfum. — This  animal  has  long  broad  ears,  rounded 
at  the  end,  thin  and  naked  ;  eyes  encompafl"ed  with  black  ; 
face,  head,  and  upper  part  of  the  body,  of  a  tawny  colour  ;  the 
belly  yellowifli  white  ;  the  feet  covered  with  fhort  whitifh  hair  ; 
toes  formed  like  thofe  of  the  Virginian  ;  tail  flender,  covered 
\Kith  minute  fcales,  from  the  tip  to  withtin  two  inches  of  the 
bafe,  which  are  clothed  with  hair.  Length,  from  nofe  to  tail, 
about  eight  inches  ;  tail  of  the  faihe  length  :  the  female  wants 
the  falfe  belly  of  the  former,  but,  on  the  lower  part,  the  fkin 
forms  on    each  fide  a  fold,  between  which  the  teats  are  lodged. 

The  fpecies  varies  in  colour.  It  inhabits  the  hot  parts  of 
South-America,  agrees  with  the  others  in  its  food,  manners, 
and  the  prehenfile  powers  of  its  tail  :  it  brings  from  ten  to  four- 
teen young  at  a  time  ;  at  leafl,  in  fome  fpecies,  there  are  that 
number  of  teats  :  the    young   afEx    themlelves   to  the  teats   as 


35^  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

foon  as  they  are  born,  and  remain  attached,  like  fo  many  ina- 
nimate things,  till  they  attain  growth  and  vigour  to  fliift  a  little 
for  themfelves. 

Mexican  Oppoffum  has  large,  angular,  naked  and  tranfparent 
ears  ;  no'e  thicker  than  that  of  the  former  kind  ;  whilkers  very 
large  ;  a  flight  bolder  of  black  furrounds  the  eyes  ;  face  of  a 
dirty  white,  with  a  daik  line  running  down  the  middle  ;  the 
hairs  on  the  head,  and  upper  part  of  the  body,  afli-coloured 
at  the  roots,  of  a  deep  tawny  brown  at  the  tips  ;  legs  dufky  ; 
claws  white  ;  belly  dull  cinereous  ;  tail  long  and  pretty  thick, 
varied  with  brown  and  yellow,  is  hairy  near  an  inch  from 
its  origin,  the  reft  naked  ;  length,  from  nolc  to  tail,  about  nine 
inches  ;  the  tail  the  k:igth   of   the  body  ai>d  head. 

Inhabits  the  mountains  of  Mexico,  lives  in  trees,  where  i% 
brings  forth  its  young  ;  when  in  any  fright  they  embrace 
their  parent  clolely  ;  the  tail  is  prehenfilc,  and  lerves  inftead  of 
a  hand. 

Cayenne  Oppojfum. — It  has  a  long  flender  face  ;  ears  ereft, 
pointed  and  fhort  ;  the  coat  woolly,  mixed  with  very  coarfe 
hairs,  three  inches  long,  of  a  dirty  white  from  the  roots  to  the 
middle,  from  thence  to  the  ends  of  a  deep  brown  ;  fides  and 
belly  of  a  pale  yellow  ;  legs  of  a  dufky  brown  ;  thumb  on 
each  foot  diftinft  ;  on  the  toes  of  the  fore  feet  and  thumb  of 
the  hind  are  nails,  on  the  toes  of  the  h  nd  feet  crocked  claws  ; 
tail  very  long,  taper,  naked  and  Icaly.  Length,  feventeen  French 
inches  ^  of  the  tail  fifteen  and  a  half  :  the  iubjetl  mcafured  was 
young. 

Inhabits  Cayenne,  very  aftive  in  climbing  frees,  on  which  it 
lives  the  whole  day  :  in  maifhy  places  feeds  on  crabs,  which, 
when  it  cannot  draw  out  of  their  holes  with  its  feet,  hooks 
them  by  means  of  its  long  tail  ;  if  the  crab  pinches  its  tail,  the 
animal  lets  up  a  loud  cry,  which  may  be  heard  afar  ;  its  com- 
mon voice  is  a  grunt  like  a  young  pig  :  it  is  well  furnifhcd  with 
teetii,  and  will  defend  itlelf  floutly  againft  dogs  ;  brings  forth 
four  or  five  young,  which  it  fecures  in  iomc  hollow  tree.  Tlie 
natives  eat  thefe  animals,  and  lay  their  flcflr  relcmblcs  a  hare. 
They  are  eafily  tamed,  and  will  then  refuie   no  kind  of  food. 

PECCARY     OR.    MEXICAN     HOG. 

This  animal,  called  the  Mexican  hog,  inhabits  the  hotefl 
parts  of  South-America,  where  the  fpecies  is  very  numerous  ; 
herds  confiding  of  two  or  three  hundred,  are   fometimes  to  be 


OF  AMERICAN  O^UADRUPEDS.  35^ 

feen  together.  It  is  verv  fierce,  and  will  fight  (loutly  with 
beafts  of  prey  when  attacked  by  them.  The  jaguar  is  its  mor- 
tal enemy,  and  frequently  lofcs  its  life  in  engaging  a  number 
of  thel'e  animals,  for  they  affill  each  other  whenever  attack- 
ed. 

They  live  chiefly  in  mountainous  places,  and  are  not  fond 
of  wallowing  in  the  mire  like  the  common  hog.  They  feed  on 
fruits,  roots  and  feeds  ;  they  likewife  eat  ferpents,  toads  and 
lizards,  and  are  very  dexterous  in  fii  H:  taking  off  the  fkia  with 
their  fore  feet  and  teeth. 

It  is  fomewhat  fmaller  than  the  common  hog  ;  its-  body  is 
covered  with  long  bridles,  which,  when  the  creature  is  irri- 
tated, life  up  like  the  prickles  of  a  hedgehog,  and  are  nearly 
as  ftrong,  they  are  of  a  duiky  colour,  with  alternate  rincrs  of 
white  ;  acrofs  the  (boulders  to  the  breaft  there  is  a  band  of 
white  ;  its  head  is  fhort  and  thick  ;  it  has  two  tufks  in  each 
jaw  ;  its  ears  are  fmall  and  ereft  ;  and  inllead  of  3  tail,  it  has  a 
Imall  flefhy  protuberance,  which  does  not  cover  its  pofteriors. 
It  differs  moll  eifentially  from  the  hog,  in  having  a  fmall  orifice 
on  the  lower  part  of  the  back,  from  whence  a  thin  watry  hu- 
mour, of  3  mofk  difagreeable  fmcli,   flows  very  copioufly. 

Like  the  common  hog,  the  peccary  is  very  piolific.  The 
young  ones,  if  taken  at  firft,  are  eafily  tamed,  and  loon  lole  all 
their  natural  ferocity,  but  can  never  be  brought  to  difcover 
any  figns   of  attachment  to  thofe  that  feed  them. 

Their  flefh  is  drier  and  leaner  than  that  of  our  hog,  but  is 
by  no  means  difagreeable,  and  may  be  greatly  improved  by 
caftration. 

Altho'igh  the  European  hog  is  common  in  America,  and  in 
many  parts  has  become  wild,  the  peccary  has  never  been  known 
to  breed  with  it.  They  frequently  go  together,  and  feed  in 
the  fame  woods  ;  but  hitherto  no  intermediate  breed  has  been 
known  to  arilc  from  their  intercourle. 


A.VIMALS    OF     THE     CAVY    KIND. 

Guinea-Pig,  or  Rcjilcfs  Cavy. — This  little  animal  is  a  native 
of  Brafil,  but  lives  and  propagates  in  temperate  and  even  in 
cold  climates,  when  protc6led  from  the  inclemency  of  the 
fealons.  Great  numbers  are  kept  in  a  domefl:ic  flate,  and 
therefore  we  conceive  any  further  obfervations  are  unnecelfary. 

Cabiai. — This  is  a  native  of  South-America,  and  lives  on  the 
banks    of   great    rivers,    fuch    as  the   Oronoque,   Amazons,  and 


360  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

Rio  de  la  PI  ita ;  fwims  and  dives  remarkably  well,  and  is  very- 
dexterous  in  catching  fidi,  upon  which  it  chiefly  fubfifts :  it 
likevvife  eats  grain,  fruits  and  fugar-canes  ;  feeds  moftly  in  the 
night,  and  commits  great  ravages  in  the  gardens.  They  gene- 
rally keep  in  large  herds,  and  make  a  noife  not  much  unlike  the 
braying  of  an  afs. 

Its  flefh  is  fat  and  tender,  but  like  that  of  the  otter,  has  an 
oily  and  fifhy  tafte.  It  is  about  the  fize  of  a  fmall  hog,  and,  by 
fome  naturalifts,  has  been  claffed  with  that  animal. 

Its  fore  hoofs  are  divided  in  four,  the  hind  ones  into  three  ; 
its  head  is  large  and  thick,  and  on  the  nofe  there  are  lonor 
whiflcers ;  its  ears  are  fmall  and  rounded,  and  its  eyes  large 
and  black  ;  there  are  two  large  cutting-teeth  and  eight  grinders 
in  each  jaw,  and  each  of  thefe  grinders  forms  on  its  furface 
what  appears  to  be  three  teeth,  flat  at  their  ends  ;  the  legs 
are  {hort,  the  toes  long,  and  connected  at  the  bottom  with  a 
fmall  web ;  the  end  of  each  toe  is  guarded  by  a  fmall  hoof  ;  it 
has  no  tail ;  the  hair  on  the  body  is  fhort,  rough,  and  of  a  brown 
colour. 

It  is  a  gentle  animal,  eafily  tamed,  and  will  follow  thofe  who 
feed  it  and  treat  it  kindly. 

As  it  runs  badly,  on  account  of  the  peculiar  conftruftion  of 
its  feet,  its  fafety  confifts  not  in  flight  ;  nature  has  pro- 
vided it  with  other  means  of  prefervation  ;  when  in  dan- 
ger it  plunges  into  the  water  and  dives  to  a  great  dif- 
tance. 

Paca,  or  Spotted  Cavy. — ^This  animal  is  about  the  fize  of  a  hare, 
but  its  body  is  much  thicker,  plumper  and  fatter.  The  colour 
of  the  hair  on  the  back  is-'  dark  brown  or  liver-coloured  ;  it 
is  lighter  on  the  fides,  which  are  beautifully  marked  with, 
lines  of  white  fpots,  running  in  parallel  diredlions  from  its 
throat  to  its  rump;  thole  on  the  upper  part  of  the  body  are 
perfeftly  diftinft  ;  the  belly  is  white.  Its  head  is  large  ;  its 
ears  fhort  and  naked  ;  its  eyes  full  and  placed  high  in  its  head 
near  the  ears  ;  in  the  lower  part  of  each  jaw,  immediately  under 
the  eye,  it  has  a  remarkable  deep  flit  or  furrow,  which  feems 
"like  the  termination  of  the  jaw,  and  has  the  appearance  of  an 
opening  of  the  mouth  ;  its  upper  jaw  proj efts  beyond  the  under  ; 
it  has  two  ftrong  yellow  cutting-teeth  in  each  jaw  ;  its  mouth 
is  fmall,  and  its  upper  lip  is  divided  ;  it  has  long  whifkers  on 
its  lips,  and  on  each  fide  of  its  head  under  the  ears  ;  its  legs 
are  fhort  ;  it  has  four  toes  on  the  fore  feet,  and  three  on  the 
hind  ;  it  has  no  tail.  It  is  a  native  of  South-America,  and 
lives  on  the  banks  of  rivers  in  warm  and  moid  places.     It  digs 


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GF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  361 

holes  in  the  ground,     fecrets   itfelf  during    the   day,    and  goes 
out  at  night  in  queft  of  food. 

It  is  a  cleanly  animal,  and  will  not  bear  the  fmallcft  degree 
of  dirtinefs  in  its  apartment.  When  puvfued  it  takes  to  the  water, 
and  efcapes  by  diving.  If  attacked  by  dogs  it  makes  a  vigorous  de- 
fence.  Its  flefh  is  efteemed  a  great  delicacy  by  the  natives  of  Brahl, 

We  think  this  animal  might  be  eafily  naturalifed  in  this  coun- 
try, and  added  to  our  flock  of  ufeful  animals.  It  is  not  much 
afraid,  of  cold,  and  being  accufhomed  to  burrow,  it  would  by 
that  means  defend  itfelf  againfl  the  rigours  of  our  winter. 

There  are  feveral  varieties  of  them,  fome  of  which  weigh 
from  fourteen  to  twenty,  and  even  thirty  pounds, 

Agouti,  or  Long-nofed  Cavy. — This  animal  is  about  the  fize  of 
a.  hare  ;  its  nofe  is  long,  upper  lip  divided,  fkin  fleek  and  fhin- 
ing,  of  a  brown  colour  mixed  with  red,  tail  fliort,  legs  flender 
and  almoft  naked  ;  has  four  toes  on  the  fore  feet  and  three  on 
the  hind  ;  grunts  like  a  pig,  fits  on  its  hind  legs,  and  feeds  itfelf 
with  its  paws  ;  and  when  fatiated  with  food  it  conceals  the 
remainder.  It  eats  fruits,  roots,  nuts,  and  almoft  every  kind  of 
vegetable  ;  is  hunted  with  dogs,  runs  faft,  and  its  rnotions  are 
like  thofe  of  a  hare.  Its  flelh,  which  relembles  that  of  a  rabbit, 
is  eaten  by  the  inhabitants  of  South-America. 

Great  numbers  of  them  are  found  in  Guiana  and  Brafil.  They 
live  in  woods,  hedges  and  hollow   trees. 

The  female  brings  forth  at  all  times  of  the  year,  and  pro- 
duces three,  four,   aed  fometimes  five  at  a  time. 

Akouchi. — This  feems  to  be  a  variety  of  the  agouti,  and, 
though  fomewhat  lefs,  is  nearly  of  the  lame  form,  but  its  tail 
js  longer.  It  inhabits  the  fame  countries,  is  of  an  olive  colour  ; 
its  flefh  is  white,  delicate,  and  has  the  flavour  of  a  young  rabbit  ; 
is  rhuch  efteemed  by  the  natives,  who  hunt  it  with  dogs,  aud. 
reckon  it  among;  the  fineft  ?ame  of  South-America. 

Rock  Cavy. — This  is  likewife  found  in  Brafil,  is  about  twelve 
inches  in  iength  ;  the  colour  of  the  upper  part  of  its  body  re- 
fembles  that  of  the  hare  ;  its  belly  is  white  ;  the  upper  lip 
divided  ;  the  ears  fhort  and  rounded  like  thole  of  a  rat,  and 
has  no  tail.  It  moves  like  thehare,  its  fore  legs  being  fhorter 
than  the  hind.  It  has  four  toes  on  the  fore  feet,  and  only  three 
on  the  hind.  Its  flelh  is  like  that  of  the  rabbit,  and  its  manner 
of  living  is  alfo  very  fimilar. 

ANIMAIS     OF     THE     HARE    KIND. 

American  Hare, — This  animal  is  not  mijch  more  than  lialf  the 
fize    of  the  European    hare  ;    its  ears   are   tipt  with  gvey,    the 

3A 


M 


3^2  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

neck  and  body  mixed  with  cinereous,  rufl  colour,  and  biactc  ^ 
the  upper  part  of  the  tail  black  and  the  lower  part  white  ; 
the  legs  :u-e  of  a  pale  ferruginous,  and  the  belly  white.  This 
animnl  is  found  in  ;ill  parts  of  North-America,  fouth  of  New- 
Jerley  it  retains  its  colour  all  the  year  ;  but  to  the  northward^ 
in  New- England,  Canada  and  Hudlon's  bay,  it  changes  at  the 
approach  of  winter  ;  its  fummer  coat  for  one,  long,  foft,  and 
filvcry,  the  edges  of  its  ears  only  preferving  their  colour.  Its 
flcfh  is  good,  and  is  exceeding  ufeful  to  thofe  who  winter 
at  Hudfon's  bay,  where  they  are  taken  in  abundance. 

Varying  Hatc—^This  animal  in  fummer  is  grey,  with  a  flight 
inixtute  of  black  and  tawny  ;  tail  white,  and  the  feet  clofely 
and  warmly  covered  with  fur  :  in  winter  it  changes  to  S 
Inowy  white,  except  the  tips  and  edges  of  the  ears,  which 
remain  black  :  this  change  not  only  takes  place  in  the  cold 
bleak  regions  of  the  north,  but  when  kept  tame  in  ftove- 
tvarmed  rooms.  They  are  in  America  chieSy  found  about 
Kudfon's  bay  and  Cook's  river. 

Brafilian  Hare. — This  animal  has  very  large  ears,  a  whiter 
ring  round  its  neck,  in  every  other  refpeft  the  fame  as  the 
common  hare,  it  is  found  in  Brafil  and  Mexico,  and  is  very 
good  for  food. 

Mr.  Morfe  mentions  another  fpceies  found  in  all  the  United 
States,  which  burrows  like  a  rabbit  ;  this  he  thinks  to  be  pecu-- 
liar  to  America.  The  rabbit,  though  it  thrives  well,  particu- 
larly in  South-America,  was  never  found  wild  in  any  part  of  thef 
American  continent. 


Of  all  animals  this  is  the  moft  fluggifh  and  inaSive  ;  and,  if 
we  were  to  judge  from  outward  appearance,  would  lecm  the 
moft  heiplcls  and  wretched.  All  its  motions  fccm  to  be  the 
efFeft  of  the  mod  painful  exertion,  which  hunger  alone  is  ca- 
pable of  exciting- 
It  lives  chiefly  in  trees  j  and  having  afcended  one  with  infi- 
nite labour  and  difficulty,  it  remains  there  till  it  has  entirely 
flrippcd  it  of  all  its  verdure,  fparing  neitheir  fruit,  blofl'om 
nor  leaf  ;  after  which  it  is  faid  to  devour  even  the  bark*  Be- 
ing unable  to  dcfcend,  it  throws  itfclf  on  the  ground,  and  con- 
tinues at  the  bottom  of  the  tree  till  hunger  agiiin  compels  it  to 
renew  its  toils  in  learcla  of  lubfiftence. 

Its  motions  nrc  acc(Mnpanied  with  a  mofl  piteous  and  lamenta- 
ble cry,  which  tcrriHcs  even  bcafls  of  prey,  and  proves  its  bed 
defence. 


•^ 


OF  AMERICAN  OUAD'RUPEDS,  363 

Though  flow,  aukward,  and  almoft  incapable  of  motion, 
the  lloth  is  ftrong,  remarkably  tenacious  of  life,  and  capable  of 
enduring  a  long  abftinence  from  food.  We  are  told  of  one 
that  having  fattened  itfelf  by  its  feet  to  a  pole,  remained  in  that 
fituation  forty  days  without  the  leail  i'uflenance.  The  ftrength 
in  its  legs  and  feet  is  fo  great,  that,  having  leized  any  thing,  it 
is  almoft  impofTible  to  oblige  it  to  quit  its  hold. 

There  are  two  kinds  oi*  floths,  whi.:h  are  principally  diflin- 
guidaed  by  the  nunaber  of  their  claws  ;  the  one  called  the  ui 
is  about  the  (ize  of  a  fox,  and  has  three  long  claws  on  each 
•foot;  its  legs  are  clumfy  and  aukwardly  placed  •,  and  the  fore 
legs  being  longer  than  the  hind,  add  greatly  to  the  ciilBculty  of 
its  progrelTive  motion  ;  its  whole  body  is  covered  with  a  rough 
coat  of  long  hair,  of  a  lightifh-brown  colour,  mixed  whh 
white,  not  unlike  that  of  a  badger,  and  has, a  black  Une  down 
the  middle  of  the  back  ;  its  face  is  naked,  and  of  a  dirty  white 
colour ;  tail  {hort,  eyes  imall,  black  and  heavy.  It  is  found 
only  in  South- America. 

The  C/nau  has  only  two  claws  on  each  foot  ;  its  head  is  fliort 
and  round,  fomewhat  like  that  of  a  monkey  ;  its  ears  are  fhorr, 
and  it  has  no  tail.  It  is  found  in  South-America,  and  alio  in 
the  ifland  of  Ceylon. 

The  fleih  of  both  kinds  is  eaten.  They  have  feveral  fto- 
machs,  and  are  faid  tq  belong  to  the  tribe  of  ruminating  animalSv 

ANT-EATEP.S. 

There  are  feveral  animals  diftinguiflied  by  the  common  name 
of  ant-eaters,  which  differ  greatly  in  form.  They  are  divided 
into  three  claiTes,  viz.  the  Great,  the  Middle,  and  the  LefTer 
Ant-eater. 

The  Great  Ant-eater  is  nearly  four  feet  in  length,  exclufive 
of  its  tail,  which  is  two  and  a  half.  It  is  remarkable  for  the 
great  length  of  its  fnout,  which  is  of  a  cylindrical  form,  and 
ferve^  as  a  (heath  to  its  long  and  flender  tongue,  which  always 
lies  folded  double  in  its  mouth,  and  is  the  chief  inftrument  by 
which  it  finds  iubfiftence. 

This  creature  is  a  native  of  Brafil  and  Guiana,  runs  flowly. 
frequently  fwims  over  rivers,  lives  wholly  on  ants,  which  it 
CoUefts  by  thrulling  its  tongue  into  their  holes,  and  having 
penetrated  into  every  part  of  the  neft,  withdraws  it  into  iis 
raoulh  loaded  with  prey. 

3  A  8 


364  CENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

Its  legs  are  fo  ftrong,  that  few  animals  can  extricate  them- 
felves  from  its  grip.  It  is  faid  to  be  formidable  even  to  the 
panthers  of  America,  and  fometimes  fixes  itielf  upon  them  in 
fuch  a  manner,  that  both  of  them  fall  and  perifh  together  ;  for 
its  obfUnacy  is  fo  great,  that  it  will  not  extricate  itfeif  from  its 
adverfary  even  after  he  is  dead. 

The  fleOi  has  a  ftrong  difagreeable  tafte,  but  it  is  eaten  by 
the  Indians. 

The  Middle  Ant-eater  is  about  one  foot  feven  inches  from  nofe 
to  tail  ;  it  inhabits  the  fame  countries,  and  procures  its  food  in 
the  fame  manner  as  the  laft.  Its  tail  is  ten  inches  long,  with 
which  it  fecures  its  hold  in  climbing  trees  by  twilling  it  round 
the  branches. 

Both  thefe  animals  have  four  ftrong  claws  on  the  fore  feet, 
and  five  on  the  hind. 

The  Lejfcr  Ant-cater  has  a  fharp-pointed  nofe,  inclining  a 
little  downwaids  ;  its  ears  are  fmall,  and  hid  in  the  fur  ;  it  has 
two  ftrong  hooked  claws  on  the  fore  feet,  the  outward  one 
being  much  the  largeft,  and  four  on  the  hind  feet ;  its  fur  is 
long,  loft  and  filky,  of  a  yellowiih-brow  colour;  its  length, 
from  nofe  to  tail,  is  feven  inches  and  a  half,  tail  above  eight, 
thick  at  the  bafe,  and  taper  to  the  end.  It  inhabits  Guiana  : 
climbs  trees  in  queft  of  a  fpecies  of  ants  which  build  their  nefts 
among  the  branches. 

ANIMALS     OF     THE     PORCUPINE     KIND. 

Brajilian  Porcupine. — This  animal  is  very  different  from  that 
known  in  general  under  the  name  of  porcupine ;  indeed  it 
can  fcarcely  be  faid  to  bear  any  relation  to  it,  except  in  its 
being  covered  with  fpines  about  three  inches  in  length  ;  they 
are  white,  very  fharp,  and  have  a  bar  of  black  near  the  points. 
The  breaft.  belly,  and  lower  part  of  the  legs,  are  covered  with 
Itrong  br'iftly  hairs  of  a  brown  colour;  its  tail  is  long  and  flen- 
der,  and  almoft  naked  at  the  end :  the  animal  ufes  it  in  defcend- 
ing  trees  by  twi|ling  it  round  the  branches. 

It  inhabits  Mexico  and  Braftl,  lives  in  woods,  and  feeds  on 
fruits  and  Imall  birds  ;  it  preys  by  night  and  fleeps  in  the  day. 
It  makes  a  nolle  like  the  grunting  of  a  fwine,  and  grows  very 
fat.      Its  flefh  is  white  and  efteemed  good  to  eat. 

Cocndou. — This  ^animal  inhabits  the  fame  countries  with  the 
laft,  and  its  h<ibits  and  mode  of  living  are  Umilar ;  but,  in 
reipeft  to  its  figure,  it  feems  to  be  a  very  diifercnt  aaimal.     Its 


l\v^Ive-1/ande.dAJ!LMAJD)FM4^  tSiss^amiedJMMADIMjO 


(L^OMNMOir.    MjR.JlSUnTAN'PvM.CVX'IWE .    UlLSOW-. 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  365 

ears  are  fhort  and  hid  in  the  hair :  its  head,  body,  and  upper 
part  of  its  tail,  are  covered  with  long  foft  hair,  in  which  are 
interfperfed  a  number  of  ftrong  fharp  fpines ;  its  tail  is  fhorter 
than  that  of  the  preceding  Ipecies,  and  it  ufes  it  in  the  fame 
manner  in  defcending  trees,  frequently  I'ufpending  itfelf  from 
the  branches. 

Urfon.— The  urchin,  or  urfon,  is  about  two  feet  in  length, 
and  when  fat,  the  fame  in  circumference.  He  is  commonlv 
called  hedge-hog  or  porcupine,  but  differs  from  both  thofe  ani- 
mals in  every  charafteriftic  mark,  excepting  his  being  armed 
with  quills  on  his  back  and  fides ;  the{e  quills  are  nearly  as 
large  as  a  wheat  ftraw,  from  three  to  four  inches  long,  and, 
•unlefa  erefted,  nearly  covered  by  the  animal's  hair;  their 
points  are  very  hard  and  filled  with  innumerable  very  fmall 
barbs  or  fcales,  whofe  points  are  raifed  from  the  body  of  the 
quill.  When  the  urchin  is  attacked  by  a  dog,  wolf,  or  other 
bead  of  prey,  he  throws  himlelf  into  a  pofture  of  defence,  by 
fhortening  his  body,  elevating  his  back,  and  ereding  his  quills. 
The  affailant  foon  finds  fome  of  thofe  weapons  ftuck  into  his 
mouth,  or  other  parts  of  his  body,  and  every  effort  which  he 
makes  to  free  himfelf  caufes  them  to  penetrate  the  farther ;  they 
have  been  known  to  bury  themfelves  entirely  in  a  few  minutes, 
fometimes  they  prove  fatal,  at  other  times  they  make  their  way 
out  again  through  the  fkin  from  various  parts  of  the  body.  If 
not  molefted  it  is  an  inoffenfive  animal.  He  finds  a  hole  or 
hollow  which  he  makes  his  refidence,  and  feeds  on  the  barks 
and  roots  of  vegetables.  His  flefh,  in  the  opinion  of  hunters 
is  equal  to.  that  of  a  fucking  pig.  Is  found  in  th«  northern 
States. 


ARMADILLO. 


This  animal  is  found  only  in  South-America,  where  there  arc 
feveral  varieties  of  them.  They  are  all  covered  with  a 
ilrong  cruft  or  fhell,  and  are  diffinguifhed  from  each  other 
by  the  number  of  the  flexible  bands  of  which  at  is  com- 
pofed. 

It  is  a  harmlefs,  inoffenfive  animal,  feeds  on  roots,  fruits  and 
other  vegetable,  grows  very  fat,  and  is  greatly  efteemed  for  the 
delicacy  of  its  flefh. 

The  Indians  hunt  it  with  fmall  dogs  trained  for  that  pur. 
pofe.  When  furprifed  it  runs  to  its  hole,  or  attempts  to  make 
a  new  one,  which  it  does  with  great  expedition,  having  flrong 
claws  on  its  fore  feet,  with  which  it  adheres  fo  firmly  to  the 
groundj  that   if  it  fhould  be  caught  by  the   tail  whilft  making 


366  GENERAL    DESCRIPTXOM 

its  way  into  the  earth,  its  refiftance  is  fo  great,  that  it  wil| 
fometlmes  leave  it  in  the  hands  of  its  purfueis  :  to  avoid  this 
the  hunter  has  recourfe  to  artifice,  and  by  tickling  it  with  a 
ftick  it  gives  up  its  hold,  and  luffcrs  itfelf  to  be  taken  alive. 
If  no  other  means  of  efcape  be  left,  it  rolls  itfelf  up  within 
its  covering  by  drav/ing  in  its  head  and  legs,  and  bringing  its 
^ail  round  them  as  a  band  to  conne6l  them  more  forcibly  toge- 
tlier  :  in  this  fituation  it  fometimes  efcapes  by  rolling  itfelf  over 
the  edge  q^  a  precipice,  and  generally  falls  to  the  bottom  un- 
hurt. 

i-  The  mofl  fuccefsful  method  of  catching  armadillos  is  by 
fnares  laid  for  them  by  the  fides  of  rivers  or  other  places  where 
they  frequent.  They  all  burrow  very  deep  in  the  ground,  and 
feldom  flir  out,  except  during  the  night,  whilll  they  are  in 
fearch  of  food. 

To  give  a  minute  defcription  of  the  {hells  or  coverings  of 
t-he  armadillos  would  be  extremely  difhcult,  as  they  are  all  com- 
pofed  of  a  number  of  parts,  differing  greatly  from  each  other 
in  the  order  and  difpofition  of  the  figures  with  which  they  are 
diftinguifhed  :  but  if  may  be  npcellary  to  obferve,  that  in  gene- 
ral there  are  two  large  pieces  that  cover  the  fhoulders  and  the 
rump,  between  which  lie  the  bands,  which  are  more  or  lefs  in 
number  in  different  kinds.  Thele  bands  are  not  unlike  thole  in 
the  tail  of  a  lobder,  and,  being  flexible,  gives  way  to  the  mpti- 
ons  of  the  animal.      The  firft   we  fliall  mention  is  the 

Three- bandtd  Armadillo. — Its  fliell  is  about  twelve  inches 
long,  with  three  bands  in  the  middle  ;  the  crufl  on  the  head, 
back  and  rump,  is  divided  into  a  number  of  elegant  railed 
'  figures,  with  five  angles  or  fides  ;  its  tail  is  not  more  than  (:wq 
inches  long  ;  it  has  neither  cutting  nor  canine  teeth,  and  has 
five  toes  on  each  foot. 

Srx-handed  Armadillo. — Is  about  the  fize  of  a  young  pig.  Be- 
tween the  folds  of  t)ie  bands  thcie  are  a  few  fcattered  hairs  ; 
its  tiiil  is  long,  thick  at  the  bale,  and  tapers  to  a  point.  It  is 
found  in  Brafil  and  Guiana. 

Eigiit-bandtd  Armadillu. — Its  ears  are  long  and  upright,  eyes 
fmall  and  black  ;  it  has  four  toes  on  the  fore  feet  and  five  on 
the  hind  ;  its  length,  from  nofe  to  tail,  is  about  ten  inches,  the 
tail  nine.  It  inhabits  Brafil,  and  is  reckoned  more  delicious 
eating  than  the  others. 

Nine- blinded  Armodillo  has  a  tenth  band,  moveable  half  way 
up  on  each  fide  ;  the  {hell  on  the  flioulJers  and  rump  is  marked 
with  hexangular  figures  ;  the  bread  and  belly  are  covered  with 
long  hairs  ;  its  tail  is  long  and  taper,  and  the  whole  aniiuai 
three  feet  in  length. 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  367 

One  of  this  kind  was  brought  to  England  a  few  years  ago 
from  the  Mufquito  fhore,  and  lived  feme  time.  It  was  fed 
with  raw  beef  and  milk,  but  refufed  to  eat  our  fruits  and 
grain. 

The  Kabaffon  is  furniflicd  with  twelve  bands,  and  is  the  larg- 
efl;  of  all  the  armadillos,  being  almoft  three  feet  long  from  nofe 
to  tail  ;  the  figures  on  the  Ihoulders  are  of  an  oblong  form, 
tliofe  on  the  rump  hcxangular.      It  is  feldom  eaten. 

Weafd  headed  Armadillo,  fo  called  from  the  form  of  its  head, 
which  is  (lender,  has  eighteen  bands  from  its  flioulder  to  its 
tail  ;  the  fliell  is  marked  with  fquare  figures  on  the  fhoulders, 
thofe  on  the  legs  and  thighs  are  roundilli  ;  the  body  is  about 
fifteen  inches  long,   tail  five. 

All  thefe  animals  have  the  power  of  drawing  thcmfelves  up 
under  their  fliells,  either  for  the  purpofe  of  repofe  or  lafety. 
They  are  furnifhed  with  flrong  laterel  mufcles,  confiding  of 
numberlefs  fibres,  crofling  each  other  in  the  form  of  an  X,  with 
which  they  contraft  themfelves  fo  powerfully,  that  the  ftrongeft 
man  is  fcarcely  able  to  force  them  open.  The  fliclls  of  the 
larger  armadillos  are  much  flronger  than  thofe  of  the  fmaller 
kinds  ;  their  flefh  is  likewife  harder  and  more  unfit  for  th& 
table, 

ANIMALS     OF     THE     MARMOT     KIND, 


Qucbtc  Marmot, — -This  animal  is  called  in  the  United  States 
the  woodchuck  ;  his  body  is  about  fixteen  inches  long,  and 
nearly  the  fame  in  circumference  ;  his  tail  is  moderately  long 
and  full  of  hair  ;  his  colour  is  a  mixture  of  fallow  and  grey. 
He  digs  a  burrow  in  or  near  fome  cultivated  field,  and  feeds  on. 
pulfe,  the  tops  of  cultivated  clover,  &c.  He  is  generally  very 
fat,  excepting  in  the  fpring.  The  young  are  good  meat,  the 
old  arc  rather  rank  and  dilagreeable.  In  the  beginning  of  Oc- 
tober they  retire  to  their  burrows,  and  live  in  a  torpid  flate 
about  fix  months.  In  many  refpefts  he  agrees  with  the  marmot 
of  the  Alps,  in  others  he  differs,  and  on  the  whole  is  probably 
not  the  fame. 

An  animal  refembling  the  woodchuck  is  found  in  the  foutli- 
crn  dates,  which  is  fuppofed  to  form  another  fpecies,  it  is  called 
the  Maryland  Marmot. 

Befides  the  above  there  are  three  other  fpecies  of  this  genus 
found  in  America,  the  Hoary,  the  Tail-lefs,  and  the  Ear-lef? 
Marmot  ;  the  two  former  are  found  in  the  northern  parts  of  the 
continent,  and  the  Ltter  on  the  wsfle.'n  fide'  only- 


368  GENERAL    D  ESCRIP  TION 

ANIMALS     OF     THE     SQUIRREL     KIND, 

Fox  Squirrel. — Of  this  animal  there  are  fevcral  varieties 
black,  red  and  grey.  It  is  nearly  twice  as  large  as  the  common 
grey  fquirrel,  and  is  found  in  the  louthern  States,  and  is  pecu- 
liar to  the  American  continent. 

Grey  Squirrel. — The  grey  Iquirrel  of  America  does  not  agree 
exaftly  with  that  of  Europe,  but  is  generally  confidered  as 
of  the  fame  fpecies.  Its  name  indicates  its  general  colour  ; 
but  fome  are  black,  and  others  black  on  the  back  and  grey  on 
the  fides.  They  make  a  nefl  of  mofs  in  a  hollow  tree,  and 
here  they  depofit  their  provifion  of  nuts  and  acorns ;  this  is 
the  place  of  their  refidence  during  the  winter,  and  here  tliey 
bring  forth  their  young.  Tlieir  fummer  houfe,  which  is 
built  of  flicks  and  leaves,  is  placed  near  the  top  of  the  tree. 
They  fometimes  migrate  in  confiderable  numbers.  If  in  their 
courfe  they  meet  with  a  river,  each  of  them  takes  a  fhingle^ 
piece  of  bark,  or  the  like,  and  carries  it  to  the  water  :  thus 
equipped  they  embark,  and  ereft  their  tails  to  the  gentle 
breeze,  which  foon  wafts  them  over  in  fafety ;  but  a  fudden 
flaw  of  wind  fometimes  produces  a  deftruftive  fhipwreck. 
The  greater  part  of  the  males  of  this  fpecies  is  found  caftrated. 
They  are  found  from  New-England  to  Chili  and  Peru.  A 
grey  fquirrel  is  found  in  Virginia  nearly  twice  as  large  as 
this ;  whether  it  be  the  fame,  or  a  different  fpecies,  is  un- 
certain. 

Red  Squirrel. — This  is  lefs  than  the  grey  fquirrel.  It  has  a 
red  lift  along  its  back,  grey  on  its  fides,  and  white  under  the 
belly.  It  differs  in  fome  refpefts  from  the  common  European 
fquirrel ;  but  M.  de  BufFon  confiders  it  as  the  fame  fpecies.  Its 
food  is  the  fame  as  that  of  the  grey  fquirrel,  except  that  it  fome- 
times feeds  on  the  feeds  of  the  pine  and  other  evergreens  ; 
hence  it  is  fometimes  called  the  pine  fquirrel,  and  is  found  in 
general  farther  to  the  northward  than  the  grey  fquirrel.  It 
fpends  part  of  its  time  on  trees  in  queft  of  food  ;  but  confiders 
its  hole,   under  fome  rock  or  log,   as  its  home. 

Striped  Squirrel. — This  is  flill  lefs  than  the  la  ft  mentioned  ; 
its  colour  is  red  ;  it  hss  a  narrow  ftripe  of  black  along  its  back  ; 
ct  the  diftance  of  about  half  an  inch  on  each  fide  is  a  ftripe  of 
white,  bordered  with  very  narrow  ftripes  of  black  ;  its  belly 
is  white.  In  the  males  the  colours  are  brighter  and  better  de- 
fined than  in  the  female.  It  is  fometimes  called  a  moufe  fquirrel 
and  ground  (quirrel,  from  its  forming  a  burrow  in  loofe  ground. 
Linnaeus   confounds  it  with  a   flriped  moufe  fquirrel  found  in 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  369 

the  nortli  of  Afia  ;  but  that  animal  is  reprefented  as  in  fome 
tneafure  refembling  the  moufe,  whereas  this  is  a  genuine  fquirrel. 
In  the  fummer  it  feeds  on  apples,  peaches,  and  various  kinds 
of  fruit  and  feeds,  and  for  its  winter  flore  lays  up  nuts,  acorns 
and  grain.  It  fometimes  aicends  trees  in  quefl  of  food,  but 
always  defcends  on  the  appearance  of  danger  ;  nor  does  it  feel 
fecure  but  in  its  hole,  a  ftone  wall,  or  fome  covert  place. 
Found  in  the  northern  and  middle  States. 

flying  Squirrel. — This  is  the  moft  ftngular  of  the  clafs  of 
fquirrels,  A  duplicature  of  the  fkin  connefts  the  fore  and  hinder 
legs  together ;  by  extending  this  membrane  it  is  able  to  leap 
much  farther,  and  to  alight  with  more  fafety  than  other  fquir- 
rels. It  lives  in  the  holes  of  trees  and  feeds  on  feeds.  Is 
found  in  general  from  the  fouthern  parts  of  Hudfon's  bay  to 
Mexico. 

Befides  the  above,  there  are  feveral  other  varieties  of  this 
genus,  fome  peculiar  to  the  whole  continent,  and  fome  to  par- 
ticular parts,  from  whence  they  have  been  named,  as  the 
Hudfon's  bay  fquirrel,  varied  fquirrel  of  Mexico,  Mexican 
fquirrel,   Brafilian  (quirrel,  &c. 

Striped  Dormoufe.—^Oi  this  genus  of  animals,  called  fome- 
times garden  fquirrels,  we  believe  there  is  only  one  fpecies 
known  in  North-America,  viz,  the  flnped  dormoufe,  which  is 
exceeding  plenty  throughout  all  4he  forefts. 

ANIMALS    OF    THE    RAT    KIND. 

Of  this  genus  of  animds  America  produces  various  fpecies^ 
two  or  three  only  of  which  we  {hall  notice. 

MufquaJJi,  or  mufli  rat  of  Canada.  This  animal  is  about  the 
fize  of  a  young  rabbit ;  its  head  is  thick  and  (hort,  refembling  that 
of  a  water  rat  ;  its  hair  foft  and  gloffy  ;  beneath  the  outward 
hair  there  is  a  thick  fine  down,  very  ufeful  in  the  manufdftuia 
of  hats  %  it  is  of  a  reddifh  brown  colour ;  its  bread  and  belly 
afh,  tinged  with  red  ;  its  tail  is  long  and  flat,  covered  with 
fcales  ;  its  eyes  arc  large,  its  ears  fhort  and  hairy  ;  it  has  two 
ftrong  cutting-teeth  in  each  jaw,  thole  of  the  under  jaw  are 
about  an  inch  long,  but  the  upper  ones  are  fborter. 

This  animal  is  a  native  of  Canada,  where  it  is  called  the 
Ondatra. 

In  many  refpefts  it  very  much  refembles  the  beaver,  both  in 
form  and  manners.  It  is  fond  of  the  water  luid  fvvims  well. 
At  the  approach  of  winter  feveral  families  alTociate  together. 
They    build  little    huts,   about    two-  feet  in  diameter,  compofed 

3  B 


Z-o  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

of  herbs  and  rufhes  cemented  with  clay,  forming  a  dome-like' 
covering  :  from  thcfe  are  feveral  paflages,  in  different  direc- 
tions, by  which  they  go  out  in  quefl  of  roots  and  other  food. 
The  hunters  lak:;  them  in  the  fpring,  by  opening  their  holes,  and 
letting  in  the  light  fuddenlyupon  them.  At  that  time  their  ficfli 
is  tolerably  good,  and  is  frequently  eaten,  but  in  the  fummcr  it 
acquires  a  kent  of  mufk,  fo  ftvong  as  to  render  it  perftftly 
unpnlair.ble. 

IFood  Rat. — This  is  a  very  curious  animal  ;  not  half  the  fize 
of  a  domeftic  rat  ;  of  a  dark  brown  or  black  colour  •,  their  tails 
flender  and  fiiort  in  proportion,  and  covered  thinly  with  fhort 
hair.  They  are  fingular  with  refpeft  to  their  ingenuity  and 
great  labour  in  conrtrutting  their  habitations,  which  are  conical 
pyramids,  about  three  or  four  feet  high,  confirufted  with  dry 
branches,  which  they  coUeft  with  great  labour  and  perfever- 
ance,  and  pile  up  without  any  apparent  order  ;  yet  they  are  fo 
interwoven  with  one  another,  that  it  would  take  a  bear  or 
a  wild  cat  lome  time  to  pull  one  of  thefe  caftles  to  pieces, 
and  allow  the  animals  fufficicnt  time  to  retreat  with  th.:ir 
young. 

There  is  likcwife  a  gi-ound  rat,  twice  as  large  as  the  common 
rat,    which  burrows  in  the  ground.      Bartram's  Travel's, 

Shrew  Monfe. — Tliis  is  the  Imalleil  of  quadrupeds,  and  holds 
nearly  the  iame  place  amon^  them  as  the  humming  bird  does 
among  the  feathered  race.  Their  head,  which  conftitutes  about 
one  third  of  their  whole  length,  has  fome  refembhmce  to  that 
of  a  mole  ;  the  ears  arc  wanting  :  their  eyes  Icarcely  vihble  ; 
the  nole  very  long,  pointed,  and  furnifhed  with  long  hairs. 
In  other  refpcfts  thefe  refemble  the  common  moufe.  They  live 
in  woods,  and  are  fuppofed  to  feed  on  grain  and  infefts.  Dif- 
ferent fpecies  of  them  are  found  in  Biafil,  Mcjiico,  Carolina, 
New-Eng!snd,  and  Hudfon's  bay. 

Mole. — The  Purple  Mole  is  found  in  Virginia  ;  the  Black 
Mcle  in  New-England  ;  he  lives  in.  and  about  the  water:  they 
diiter  from  one  anotlier,  and  both  from  the  European.  There 
are^hree  other  fpecies  found  about  New-York,  viz.  the  Long- 
taileJ,  the  Radiated,  and  the  Brown  ;  the  former  is  alio  found 
in  the  interior  of  Hudion's  bay. 

A.N'IMALS    OF    THE    MONKEY     KIND. 

Th«W^r.kics  of  America  are  diftinguifhed  by  M.  EufFon 
by  the  generic  names  of  Sapajous  and  Sagoins  ;  they  have 
neither  cheek  pouches  nor  cjllohties  on  their  buttocks,  and  they 
are  diftinguiflicd  from  each  other  by  charaftcrs  peculiar  to  cacli. 


RiJi/csAer/  /y    St'vi^.  2iet^.  tC  Way/an^. 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS. 


37 


The  fapajou  is  furnifhed  with  a  -prehenfile  tall,  the  under  parfc 
®f  which  is  generally  covered  with  a  finooth  naked  flcin  ;  the 
animal  can  coil  it  up  or  extend  it  at  pleafure',  fufpend  itfelf  by 
its  extremity  on  the  branches  of  tree;?,  or  vife  it  as  a  hand  to  lay 
hold  of  any  thing  jt  wants.  The  tails  of  ail  the  lagoins,  on  the 
contrary,  are  longer  than  -thofe  of  the  fapajous,  ftraight,  flaccid, 
and  entirely  covered  with  hair.  This  difference  alone  is  iuffi- 
cient  to  dillinguilh  a  fapajou  from  a  fagoin. 

Vuarine,  or  Preacher. — This  is  the  largeft  of  all  the  Ameri- 
can monkies,  being  about  the  fize  of  a  large  fox  ;  its  body  is 
covered  with  long  finooth  hair,  of  a  (liining  black  colour, 
forming  a  kind  of  ruff  round  the  animal^s  neck  ;  its  tail  is  long, 
and  always  twifted  at  the  end. 

Great  numbers  of  thele  monkies  inhabit  the  woods  of  Brafil 
2nd  Guiana,  and,  from  the  great  noife  they  make,  are  called 
Howling  Monkies.  Several  of  them  affemble  together,  one 
placing  himfelf  on  a  higher  branch,  the  reft  placing  themielves 
in  a  kind  of  regidar  order  below  him :  the  firft  then  begins 
as  though  to  harangue  with  a  loud  lone,  which  may  be  heard 
at  a  great  diftance  ;  at  a  fignal  made  with  his  hand,  the  reft 
join  in  a  general  chorus,  the  moft  diffonant  and  trenrien- 
dous  that  can  be  conceived  ;  on  another  fignal  they  all  ftop, 
excfpt   the   fiift,   who    finifhcs    fingly,   and    the  affcnibly  breaks 

Thefe  monkies  are  very  fierce,  and  fo  wild  and  mifchievnus, 
that  they  can  neither  be  conquered  nor  tamed.  They  feed  on 
fruits,  grain,  herbs,  and  fomelimes  infefts  ;  live  in  trees,  and 
leap  from  bough  to  bough  with  wonderful  agility,  catching 
kold  with  their  hands  and  tails  us  they  throw  themielves  from 
one  branch  to  another. 

There  is  a  variety  of  this  fpecles  of  a  ferruginous  or  red- 
difh'colour,  which  the  Indians  call  the  Royal,  or  King  Mon- 
key ;  it  is  as  la)ge  and  noify  as  the  former.  This  is  eaten 'by 
the  natives,  and  iametimes  by  the  Europeans,  and  deemed  ex- 
cellent food, 

Coaita. — This  animal  is  fomewhat  lefs  than  the  ouMine  ;  its 
body  and  limbs  are  long  and  flender,  hair  black  and  rough, 
tail  long,  and  naked  on  the  under  fide  near  the  end.  It  hus 
a  long  flat  face  of  a  fwarthy  colour,  its  eves  (unk  in  its  head, 
and  its  ears  relembling  human  ;  it  has  only  four  ftiigers  on  the 
hands,   being  deftilute  of  the  thumb. 

It  is  found  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Carthagcna,  in  Guiana^ 
Brafil,  and  Peru.  Great  numbers  affociate  together;  they  fel- 
dom  appear  on  the  ground,  but   live  moftly   in  trees,  and   feed 

3  B  2 


372  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

on  fruits  ;  when  thefe  are  not  to  be  had,  they  are  faid  to  eat 
fifiies,  worms  and  inl'edls  ;  are  extremely  dexterous  in  catching 
their  prey,  and  make  great  ufe  of  their  tails  in  fei?:ing  it. 

They  are  very  lively  and  a£live.  In  parting  from  one  tree  to 
another,  they  fometimes  form  a  chain,  linked  to  each  other  by 
their  tails,  and  fwing  in  that  manner  till  the  loweft  catches 
hold  of  a  branch,  and  draws  up  the  reft.  When  fruits  are 
ripe,  they  are  generally  fat,  and  their  flelh  is  then  faid  to  be 
co^cellent. 

Thene  are  many  varieties  of  the  coaita,  v/hich  differ  chiefly 
in  colour ;  fome  are  totally  black,  others  brown,  and  fome  have 
•white  hair  on  the  under  parts  of  their  body.  They  are  called 
Spider  Monkies  by  Edwards,  on  account  of  the  length  and  flen- 
4ernefs  of  their  legs  and  tails. 

M.  Buffon  fuppofes  the  Exquima  to  be  another  variety  of  this 
fpecies.  It  is  nearly  of  the  fame  fize,  but  its  colour  is  varie- 
gated. The  hair  on  its  back  is  black  and  yellow,  its  throat  and 
belly  white :  its  manner  of  living  is  the  fame  with  that  of  the 
coaita,  and  it  inhabits  the  fame  countries^ 

Sajou,  or  Capuchin. — There  are  two  varieties  of  this  fpecies 
the  brown  and  the  grey,  which,  in  other  refpefts,  are  perfeftly 
fimilar.  Their  faces  arc  of  a  flefh  colour,  thinly  covered  with 
down  ;  tails  long,  full  of  hair  on  the  upper  fide,  naked  below, 
and  prehenfile ;  hands  black  and  naked  j  length  of  the  body 
about  twelve  inches. 

Thefe  animals  inhabit  Guiana,  are  extremely  lively  and  agile, 
and  their  conftitution  feems  better  adapted  to  the  temperate 
climates  of  Europe  than  moft  of  the  fapajou  kind.  M.  Buffon 
nientions  a  few  inftances  of  their  having  been  produced  in 
France. 

The  fajous  are  very  capricious  in  their  attachments,  being 
fond  of  particular  perlons,  and  dilcovering  the  greaieft  avefhon 
to  others. 

Sai,  or  Weeper,  inhabits  Brafil,  is  very  mild,  docile,  and  timid  ; 
of  a  grave  and  ierious  afpeft,  has  an  appearance  of  weeping, 
and  when  irritated,  makes  a  plaintive  noife.  It  is  about  four- 
teen inches  long,  the  tail  longer  than  the  body  ;  hair  on  the 
back  and  lides  of  a  deep  brown  colour,  mixed  with  red  on  the 
lower  parts.  There  is  a  variety  with  hair  on  the  throat  and 
breatt. 

Great  nurr.bers  of  thefe  creatures  affemble  together,  particu- 
ly  in  ftormy  weather,  and  make  a  gieat  chattering  ;  Miey  live 
much  in  trees  which  bear  a  podded  fruit  as  large  as  beans,  on 
which  they  principally  feed. 


MjTCO, 


Ojstitx, 


aS'.akt. 


)>',We.i-  .f,  erh 


jB3W<CHE 


OF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  373 

Saimiri,  or  Orange  Monkey. — This  is  a  moft  beautiful  animal, 
but  fo  extremely  delicate,  that  it  cannot  well  bear  to  be  brought 
from  its  own  cjimate  to  one  lefs  warm  and  temperate. 

It  is  about  the  fize  of  a  fquirrel  ;  its  head  is  round,  eyes  re- 
markably lively  and  brilliant,  ears  large,  hair  on  the  body  fliort 
and  fine,  of  a  fhining  gold  colour,  feet  orange,  its  tail  is  very 
long  ;  its  prehenfile  faculty  is  much  weaker  than  the  reft  of  the 
fapajous,  and  on  that  account  it  may  be  faid  to  form  a  fhade  be- 
tween  them  and  the  fagoins,  which  have  long  tails,  entirely  co- 
vered with  hair,  but  of  no  ule  in  fufpending  their  bodies  from 
the  branches  of  trees  or  other  objefls. 

Mico,  or  Fair  Monkey. — This  is  the  moll  beautiful  of  all  this 
numerous  race  of  animals.  Its  head-  is  fmall  and  round  ;  fac? 
and  ears  of  fo  lively  a  vermillion  colour,  as  to  appear  the  efFefl: 
of  art  ;  its  body  is  covered  with  long  hair,  of  a  bright  filvery 
■yvhitenefs,  and  unconimon  clegince  ;  tail  long,  and  of  a  fhining 
dark  chefnut  colour. 

It  frequents  the  banks  of  the  river  of  Amazoqi,  where  it  was 
difcovered  by  M.  Condamaine,  who  preferved  one  alive  till 
almoft.  within  fight  of  the  French  coaft,  but  it  died  before  its 
arrival. 

Oijiiti,  or  Cagvi. — -This  is  a  fmall  animal,  its  head  and  body 
not  exceeding  feven  inches  in  length  ;  its  tail  is  long,  bufhy, 
and,  like  that  of  the  macauco,.  marked  with  alternate  rings  of 
black  and  afh  colour  :  its  face  is  naked,  of  a  fwarthy  flefh  co- 
lour ;  ears  l^ge,  and  like  the  human,  with  two  very  large  tufts 
of  white  hairs  (landing  out  on  each  fide  ;  the  body  beautifully 
marked  with  dufky,  afh  coloured,  and  reddifh  bars  ;  its  nails 
are  fharp,  and  its  fingers  like  thofe  of  a  fquirrcl- 

The  oufliti  inhabits  Brafil,  feeds  on  fruits,  vegetables  infefts, 
and  fnails,  and  is  fond  of  fifh. 

Saht.^ — Sometimes  called  the  Fox-tailed  Monkey,  becaufe  its 
tail,  like  that  of  the  fox,  is  covered  witl)  long  hair.  ItxS  body 
is  about  feventeen  inches  in  length  ;  hair  long,  of  a  dark  brown 
colour  on  the  back,  lighter  on  the  under  fide  ;  its  face  is  taw- 
ny, and  covered  with  a  fine  Ihort  whitifh  down  ;  the  forehead 
and  fides  of  |the  face  are  white  ;  its  hands  and  feet  are  black, 
with  claws  inftead  of  nails  ;  is  a  native  of  Guiana,  where  it  is 
called  the  faccawinkee. 

Pinche,  or  Red  tailed  Monkey,— Thi$  is  fomewhat  larger  than 
the  ouftiti.  It  is  remarkable  in  having  a  great  quantity  of  white 
fmooth  hair,  which  falls  down  from  \.he  top  of  its  head  on  each 
fide,  forming  a  curious  contrail  with  its  face,  which  is  black, 
^hinly   covered    with   a   fine  grey  down  ;  its  eyes  are  black  and 


374  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

lively  ;  throat  black  ;  hair  on  the  back  and  fhoulders  of  a  light 
reddifh  brown  colour  ;  breaft,  belly,  and  legs,  white  ;  the  tail 
is  long,  of  a  red  colour  from  the  rump  to  the  middle,  from 
thence  to  the  end  it  is  black. 

The  pinche  inhabits  the  woods  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
of  Amazons  ;  is  a  lively,  beautiful  little  animal  ;  has  a  loft 
whiftling  voice,  refembling  more  the  chirping  of  a  bird  than 
the  cBy  of  a  quadruped.  It  frequently  walks  with  its  long  tail 
over  its  back. 

Marikina. — This  is  by  fome  called  the  Lion  Ape,  from  the 
quantity  of  hair  which  furrounds  its  face,  falling  backwards 
like  a  mane  ;  its  tail  is  alio  lomewhat  bufhy  at  the  end  ;  its 
face  is  flat,  and  of  a  dull  purple  colour  ;  its  hair  long,  bright, 
and  filky,  from  whence  it  is  called  the  Silky  Monkey  ;  it  is 
of  a  pale  yellow  colour  on  the  body  ;  the  hair  round  the  face 
of  a  bright  bay,  inclining  to  red  ;  its  hands  and  feet  are  with- 
out hair,  and  of  the  fame  colour  as  the  face  ;  its  body  is  ten 
inches  long,  tail  thirteen. 

This  creature  is  a  native  of  Guiana,  is  very  gentle  and  lively, 
and  feems  to  be  more  hardy  than  the  other  lagoins  :  Buffon 
fays,  that  one  of  them  lived  at  Paris  feveral  years,  with  no 
other  precaution  than  keeping  it  in  a  warm  room  during 
winter. 

Tajnar in. ^— This  is  the  fize  of  a  fquirrel  ;  its  face  is  naked, 
of  a  fwarthy  flefh  colour  ;  its  upper  lip  fomewhat  divided  ;  its 
cars  are  very  large  and  ereft,  from  whence  it  it  called  the 
Great -eared  Monkey  j  its  hair  is  foft,  fliaggy,  and  of  a  black 
colour  ;  hands  and  feet  covered  with  orange  coloured  hair,  very 
fine  and  fmoothe  ;  its  nails  long  and  crooked  ;  tail  black,  and 
twice  the  length  of  its  body. 

The  tamarin  inhabits  the  hotter  parts  of  South- America  :  is 
a  lively,  pleafant  animal,  eafily  tamed,  but  fo  delicate,  that  it 
cannot   bear  a  removal  to  a  Icfs  temperate  climate. 

Moll  ol  the  above  genus  leem  to  be  more  particularly  natives 
of  South-America,  but  they  are  likewile  faid  to  be  found  on  the 
lower  parts-of   the  Miffiffippi. 

PINNATED  QUADRUPEDS. 

IFalrus,  or  Sea  horfc. — There  are  feveral  animuls  ^vhofe  refi- 
dence  is  almoft  conftantly  in  the  water,  and  which  feem  to 
partake  greatly  of  the  nature  of  fifhes,  they  are  neverthelefs 
claffed  by  naturaliils  under  the  denomination  of  quadrupeds  ; 
and  being  perfeftly  amphibious,  living  with  equal  eale  on  the 
water  as  on  land,   may  be  confidered  as  the  laft  ilep  in  the  Ica'c 


OF  A  ME  RICA  N  QUA  DRUPEDS.  375 

of  nature,  by  v»:hich  we  are  condufted  from  one  great  divifion 
of  the  animal  world  to  the  other.  Of  thefe  the  walrus  is  the 
moft  confiderable  ;  it  has  a  round  head  ;  fmall  mouth  ;  very 
thick  lips,  covered  above  arid  below  with  pelluced  brillles  as 
thick  as  a  flraw  ;  fmall  fiery  eyes  ;  two  fmall  orifices  inftead  of 
cars  ;  ftiort  neck  ;  body  thick  in  the  middle,  tapering  towards 
the  tail  ;  fkin  thick,  wrinkled,  with  fhort  brownifh  hairs  thinly 
difperfed  ;  legs  fhort,  five  toes  on  each,  all  connefted  by  webs, 
and  fmall  nails  on  each  ;  the  hind  feet  very  broad  ;  each  leg 
loofely  articulated  ;  the  hind  legs  generally  extended  on  a  line 
with  the  body  ;  tail  very  fhort  ;  length,  from  nofe  to  tail,  fome- 
times  eighteen  feet,  and  ten  or  twelve  round  in  the  thickeft 
part  ;  the  teeth  have  been  fometlmes  found  of  the  weight*  of 
twenty  pounds  eachw 

They  inhabit  the  -coaft  of  Spitzbergen,  Nova  Zemble,  Hud- 
fon's  bay,  and  the  gulph  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  Icy  fea,  as 
far  as  cape  Tfchuktfchi,  and  the  iflands  off  it,  but  does  not  ex- 
tend fouthward  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Anadyr,  nor  are  any 
feen  in  the  iflands  between  Kamfchatka  and  America  :  they  are 
gregarious;  in  fome  places  appear  in  herds  of  hundreds;  are 
fhy  animals,  and  avoid  places  which  are  much  haunted  by  man- 
kind ;+  are  very  fierce  ;  if  wounded  in  the  water,  they  attempt 
to  fink  the  boat,  either  by  rifing  under  it,  or  by  fl;riking  their 
great  teeth  into  the  fides  ;  roar  very  loud,  and  will  follow  the 
boat  till  it  gets  out  of  fight.  Numbers  of  them  are  often 
feen  fleeping  on  an  ifland  of  ice  ;  if  awakened,  fling  themfelves 
with  great  impetuofity  into  the  fea,  at  which  time  it  is  danger- 
ous to  approach  the  ice,  left  they  fhould  tumble  into  thg  boat 
and  overfet  it  ;  do  not  go  upon  the  land  till  the  coaft  is  clear  of 
ice.  At  particular  times,  they  land  in  amazing  numbers  ;  the 
moment  the  firft  gets  on  fhore,  fo  as  to  lie  dry,  it  will  not  ftir 
till  another  comes  and  forces  it  forward  by  beating  it  with  its 
great  teeth  ;  this  is  ferved  in  the  fame  manner  by  the  next,  and 
fo  in  fuccefiion  till  the  whole  is  landed,  continuing  tumbling 
over  one  another,  and  forcing  the  foremoft,  for  the  fake  of  quiet, 
to  remove  further  up. 


*  Teeth  of  this  fire  are  only  found  on  the  coaft  of  the  Icy  fea,  v.'herc  the 
animals  are  feldom  molefled,  and  have  time  to  attain  their  full  growth.  Hiji. 
Kamfchatka,   1 20. 

+  In  1608,  the  crew  of  an  Englifli  vefiTel  killed  on  Cherry  ifle  above  nine 
hundred  Walrufes  in  fevcn  hoars  time  ;  for  they  lay  in  heaps,  like  hogs  huddled 
one  upon  another.     Marten's  Spitjierg.      181,182. 


e-yS  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

They  bring  one,  or  at  moft  two  young  at  a  time  ;  feed  on 
fea  herbs  and  fifh,  alfo  on  fhells,  which  they  dig  out  of  the 
fand  with'their  teeth  ;  are  faid  alfo  to  make  ufc  of  their  teeth 
to  afcend  rocks  or  pieces  of  ice,  fiftening  them  to  the  cracks, 
and  drawing  their  bodies  up  by  that  means.  Befides  mankind, 
they  feem  to  have  no  other  enemy  than  the  white  bear,  with 
whom  they  have  terrible  combats,  but  are  generally  vifto- 
rious. 

They  are  killed  for  the  fake  of  the  oll^  one  animal  producing 
about  half  a  ton. 

Seal. — Of  this  genus  there  are  feveral  fpecies,  Al  of  which, 
there  is  no  doubt,  are  found  on  fome  part  of  the  coafl  of 
America. 

WhaU'taikd  Manati. — This  animal  in  nature  fo  nearly  ap- 
proaches the  cetaceous  tribe,  that  it  is  merely  in  conformity  to 
the  fyftematic  writers,  that  it  is  continued  in  this  clafs  ;  it  fcarce 
deferves  the  name  of  a  biped  ;  what  are  called  feet  are  little 
more  than  pefloral  fins  ;  they  ferve  only  for  fwimming  ;  they 
are  never  uled  to  affift  the  animal  in  walking  or  landing,  for 
3t  never  goes  afhore,  nor  ever  attempts  to  climb  the  rocks,  like 
the  walrus  and  feal.  It  brings  forth  in  the  water,  and,  like  the 
whale,  fuckles  its  young  in  that  element  ;  like  the  whale,  it 
has  no  voice,  and,  like  that  animal,  has  an  horizontal  broad 
tail  in  form  of  a  crei'cent,  without  even  the  rudiments  of  hind 
feet. 

Inhabits  the  fcas  about  Bering's  and  the  other  Aleutian  iflands, 
which  intervene  between  Kamfchatka  and  America,  but  never 
appear  off  Kamfchatka,  unlefs  blown  afhore  hy  a  tempeft.  1$ 
probably  the  fame  fpecies  which  is  found  above  Mindanao,  but 
is  certainly  that  which  inhabits  near  Rodriguez,  vulgarly  called 
Diego  Reys,  an  ifland  on  the  eafl  of  Mauritius,  or  the  ifle  of 
France,  near  which  it  is  likewife  found. 

They  live  perpetually  in  the  water,  and  frequent  the  edges 
of  the  fhores  ;  and  in  calm  weather  fwim  in  great  droves  near 
the  mouths  of  rivers  ;  in  the  time  of  flood  they  come  fo  near 
the  land,  that  a  perfon  may  ftroke  them  with  his  hand  ;  if  hurt, 
they  fwim  out  to  fea,  but  prefently  return  again.  They  live 
in  families,  one  near  another  ;  each  confifts  of  a  male,  a  female, 
5  half-grown  young  one,  and  a-  very  fmall  one.  The  females 
oblige  the  young  to  fwim  before  them,  while  the  other  old  ones 
furround,  and,  as  it  were,  guard  them  on  all  fides.  If  the  fe- 
male is  attacked,  the  male  will  defend  her  to  the  utmofl:,  and  if 
fne  is  killed,  will  follow  her  corpfe  to  the  very  fhore,  and  Iwim 
for  fome  days  near  the  place  it  has  been  landed  at. 


€F  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  377 

They  copulute  in  the  fpring,  in  the  fame  manner  as  the  hu- 
man kind,  efpecially  in  calm  weather,  towards  the  evening. 
The  female  fwims  gently  about  ;  the  male  purfues,  till  tired  with 
Wantoning,  (he  flings  herfelf  on  her  back,  ani  admits  his  em- 
braces.* Steller  thinks  they  go  with  young  above  a  year  ;  it  is 
certain  that  they  bring  but  one  young  at  a  time,  which  ihey 
fuckle  by  two  teats  placed  between  the  breafts. 

They  are  vaftly  voracious  and  gluttonous,  and  feed  not  only 
on  the  fuci  that  grow  in  the  lea,  but  fuch  as  are  flung  on  the 
edges  of  the  fliore.  When  they  are  all  filled  they  fall  afleep 
on  their  backs.  During  their  meals,  they  are  fo  intent  on  their 
food,  that  any  one  may  go  among  them  and  chufe  which  he 
likes  beft. 

Their  back  and  their  fides  are  generally  above  water,  and  as 
their  flcin  is  filled  with  a  fpecies  of  louie  peculiar  to  them,  num- 
bers of  gulls  are  continually  perching  on  their  backs,  and  pick- 
ing out  the  infefts. 

They  continue  in  the  Kamfchatkan  and  American  feas  the 
whole  year  ;  but  in  winter  are  very  lean,  lo  that  you  may  count 
their  ribs.  They  are  taken  by  harpoons  faftened  to  a  flrong 
cord,  and  after  they  are  flruck,  it  requires  the  united  force  of 
thirty  men  to  draw  them  on  fhore.  Sometimes,  when  they  arc 
transfixed,  they  will  lay  hold  of  the  rocks  with  their  paws,  and 
ftick  fo  fad  as  to  leave  the  fkin  behind  before  they  can  be 
forced  off.  When  a  Manati  is  fliruck,  its  companions  fwim  to 
its  afliftance  ;  fome  will  attempt  to  overturn  the  boat,  by  getting 
under  it ;  others  will  prefs  down  the  rope,  in  order  to  break  it  ; 
and  others  will  fl:rike  at  the  harpoon  with  their  tails,  with  a  view 
of  getting  it  out,  which  they  often  fucceed  in.  They  have  not 
any  voice,  but  make  a  noifc  by  hard  breathing,  like  the  fnorting 
of  a  horfc. 

They  are  of  ah  enormous  fize  ;  fome  are  twenty-eight  feet 
long,  and  eight  thoufand  pounds  in  weight  ;  but  if  the  mindanao 
fpecies  is  the  fame  with  this,  it  decreales  greatly  in  fize  as  it  ad- 
vances fouthward,  for  the  lairgeft  which  Dampier  law  there, 
weighed  only  fix  hundred  pounds.  The  head,  in  proportion 
to  the  bulk  of  the  animal,  is  imall,  oblong,  and  almofl  Iquare  ; 
the  noftrils  are  filled  wiih  fhort  brlflles  ;  the  gape,  or  ridtus,  is 
fmall  ;  the  lips  are  double  ;  near  the  junction  of  the  two  jaws 
the  mouth  is  full  of  white  tubular  biiftles,  which  ierve  the  lams 

♦The  leonine  and  urfine  Ceals  copulate  in  the  fame  manner,  only,  after  fport- 
iuj.  hi   the  lea  for  feme  time,   they  come  on  ihore  for  that  purpofe. 

3  C 


8-73  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

«ie  as  the  lamincc  in  whales,  to  prevent  the  food  running  out 
^vith  the  water  ;  the  lips  are  alfo  full  of  brifkles,  which  lervft 
inficp.d  of  teeth  to  cut  the  ftrong  roots  of  the  fea  plants,  which 
floating  afliorc  are  a  fign  of  the  vicinity  of  thefc  animals^  In 
the  mouth  »re  no  teeth,  only'  two  flat  white  boneS,  one  in  each 
jaw,  one  above,  another  below,  with  undulated  furfaces,  which 
ferve  inftead  of  grinders. 

The  eyes  are  extremely  fmall,  not  larger  than  tHofe  of  a 
flieep  ;  ihc  iris  blacJc  ;  it  is  deditute  of  ears,  having  only  two 
orifices,  fo  mrnute  that  a  quill  will  fcarcely  enter  them  ;  the 
tongue  is  pointed  and  fmall  ;  the  neck  is  thick,  and  its  junflion 
with  the  head  icarce  diilinguifhable,  and  the  laft  always  hangs 
down.  The  circumference  of  tlie  body  near  the  flaoulders  is 
twelve  feet,  about  the  beily  twenty,  near  the  tail  only  four  feet 
eight  ;  the  head  thirty-one  inches  ;  the  neck  near  feven  feet  ; 
and  from  thele  meafurements  may  be  coUefled  the  deformity  of 
th;s  animal.  Near  the  (houldeB*  are  two  feet,  or  rather  nns, 
whicli  are  only  two  feet  two  inches  long,  and  have  neither 
fingers  nor  nails,  beneath  are  concave,  and  covered  with  hard 
bridles  ;  the  tail  is  thick,  ftrong,  and  horizontal,  ending  in  a  iliff 
black  fin,  and  like  the  lubilance  of  whalebone,  and  much  fplit 
in  the  fore  part,  and  (lightly  forked,  but  both  ends  arc  of  equal 
lengths,   like  that  of  a  whale. 

The  fkin  is  very  thick,  black,  arid  full  of  inequalities,  like 
the  baik  of  o^k,  and  lo  hard  as  ("carcely  to  be  cut  with  an  ax, 
and  has  no  hair  on  it  ;  beneath  the  fkin  is  a  thick  blubber, 
which  tafles  like  oil  of  almonds.  The  flefh  is  coarfer  thzn 
beef,  and  will  not  iboa  putrefy.  The  young  ones  tafke  like 
veil  :  the  ikin  is  uled  i"or  ihoes,  and  for  covering  the  fides  of 
boats. 

The  RuTians  call  this  aniinal  rhorfkaia  korowj,  or  fea  cow  ;- 
and  kapuftnik,  or  eater  of  heibs. 

Maiidii  of  Guiana. — The  head  of  this  animal  hangs  down- 
ward ;  the  iect  are  furnifhed  with  five  toes  ;  body  almoft  to  the 
tail  of  an  uniform  thitknels  ;  near  its  junfclion  v/ith  that  part 
glows  luddr.nly  thin  ;  tail  flat,  and  in  form  of  a  fpatula,  thickeit 
in   the  middle,  growing  thinner  tov^ards  the  edges. 

Inhabits  the  rivers  and  lea  of  Guiana  ;  it  grows  to  the  length 
of  lixteen  or  eighteen  feet  ;  is  covered  with  a  duflcy  flvin  with 
a  few  hairs.  Tiioie  meai'ured  by  Dampier  were  ten'  or  twelve 
feet  Lmg  ;  their  tail  twenty  inches  in  length,  fourteen  in  breadth, 
four  or  five  thick  in  the  middle,  two  at  the  edges  ;  the  largefi. 
weighed  twelve  hunuied  pounds  ;  but  they  arrive  at  far  greater 
magnitude. 


GF  AMERICAN  QUADRUPEDS.  37,9 

Oronoko  McTiati. — This  is  the  fpecies  to  which  M,  de  BufFon 
has  in  his  fupplement  given  the  parjie  of  Le  petit  LamanLia  de 
I'Amerique,  and  lays  it  is  found  in  the  Oronokoj  Oyapoc,  and  the 
rivers  of  Amazons.  Father  Gumilia  had  one  taken  in  a  diflant 
iake,  near  the  Oronoko,  which  was  fo  large  that  twenty- (even 
men  could  not  draw  it  out  of  the  water:  on  cutting  it  open,  he 
found  two  young  ones  which  weighed  twenty- five  pounds  a- 
piece. 

We  fufpe£l  that  the  manati  of  the  Amazons,  &c.  never  vifit 
the  fea,  but  are  perpetually  refident  in  the  fi  efli  waters. 

Thele  animals  abound  in  certain  parts  of  the  eaftern  coan.s 
and  rivers  of  South-America,  about  the  bay  of  Honduras,  Ibme 
of  the  greater  Antilles,  the  rivers  of  Oronoque,  and  the  lakes 
-formed  by  it  5  and  laftly  in  that  of  the  Amazons,  and  tlie  Gual- 
iaga,  the  pafta,ca,  and  moft  of  the  others  which  full  into  tii;it 
vaft  river :  they  are  found  even  a  thouiand  leagues  from  its 
mouth,  and  feem  to  be  flopt  from  making  even  an  higher  ad- 
vance, only  by  the  great  catara<5l,  the  Pongo  of  Borja.  They 
fometimes  live  in  the  fea,  and  often  near  the  mouth  of  forne 
river,  into  which  they  come  once  or  twice  in  tv.'ent)»-four  hours, 
for  the  fake  of  brouzing  on  the  marine  plants  which  grow 
within  their  reach  ^  they  altogether  delight  more  in  brackifh  or 
fweet  water,  than  in  the  fait  •,  and  in  ll^allow  water  near  lovv 
land,  and  in  places  fecure  from  furges,  and  where  the  tides  run 
gently.  It  is  faid  that  at  times  they  frolic  and  leap  to  great 
heights  out  of  the  water.  Their  ufes  were  very  confiderable 
to  the  privateers  or  bucc^niers  in  the  time  of  Dampier.  Their 
flefh  and  fat  are  white,  very  fweet  and  ialubrious,  and  the  ta.i 
of  a  young  female  was  particularly  efteemed.  A  fuckling  wai 
held  to  be  moft  delicious,  and  eaten  roafted,  as  were  great  pieces 
jcut  out  of  the  belly  of  the  old  animals. 

The  Ikir»  cut  out  of  the  belly,  for  that  of  the  back  was  too 
thick,  was  in  great  requefl  for  the  purpofe  of  faftening  to  the 
fides  of  canoes,  and  forming  a  place  for  the  infertion  of  the 
oars.  The  thicker  part  of  the  fl?.in,  cut  frelh  into  lengths  of 
two  or  three  feet,  ferves  for  whips,  and  become,  when  dried, 
as  tough  as  wood, 

Befides  thefe,  an  animal  has  been  djfcovered  on  the  coafl  of 
America  to  which  the  name  of  Sea  Ape  has  been  given  ;  but 
it  appears  to  have  been  feen  in  only  one  folitary  iulLance,  and 
therefore  it  appears  unneceffary,  except  in  a  profeffcd  hi  (lory  of 
apin^als,  to  add  any  account  of  it. 

3  C  ? 


s3o  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION,  &c, 

WINGED     QUADRUPEDS. 

Bat. — This  fingular  animal  is  diflinguifhed  from  every  other 
quadruped  by  being  furuifhed  with  wings,  and  feems  to  poffcfs 
a  middle  nature  bet\veen  four-footed  animals  and  birds  :  it  is 
allied  to  the  orie  by  the  faculty  of  flying  only,  to  the  other  both 
by  its  external  and  internal  ftrufture  :  in  each  refpeft  it  has 
the  appearance  of  an  imperfeft  animal.  In  walking,  its  feet 
fecm  to  be  entangled  with  its  wings,  and  it  drags  its  body  on 
the  ground  with  extreme  aukwardnefs.  Its  motions  in  the  air 
do  not  feem  to  be  performed  with  eafe  :  it  raifes  itlelf  from  the 
ground  with  difficulty,  and  its  flight  is  laboured  and  ill  direftedj 
from  whence  it  has  very  fignificantly  been  called  the  Flitter 
Moufc.  There  are  feveral  varieties  of  the  bat  kind,  feveral  of 
which  are  found  in  different  pans  of  the  continent  of  Ame* 
rica. — 6't.Y  Birds. 


(    38  J    ) 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


BIRDS    Of    AMERIC  A. 


I 


N  the  following  account  of  the  birds  of  America,  nothing 
more  is  attempted  than  an  enumeration  of  the  fpecies  of  the 
different  genera  found  on  that  continent  ;  the  divifion  and 
order  of  Mr.  Pennant  is  followed,  and  defcriptive  charafters  of 
each  genus,  in  general  attended  to.  As  it  was  impofhble  in  a 
work  of  this  kind  to  enter  into  a  defcription  of  the  different 
fpecies  of  each  genus,  we  hope  the  method  adopted  will  prove 
more  acceptable  and  advantageous  than  a  mere  catalogue  of 
either  popular  or  fy  Hematic  names. 

DIV.    I.    LAND-FOWL. 

ORDER  I.    RAPACIOUS. 

Bill,  ftraight,  hooked  only  at  the  end  ;  edges  cultrated,  bafe 
covered  with  a  thin  fkin. — JSoJtrils,  differing  in  different  fpe- 
cies.— Tongue,  large  and  flefhy. — Head,  cheeks,  chin,  and  often 
neck,  either  naked  or  covered  only  with  down  or  fhort  hairs; 
the  neck  retraflile. — Claw,  often  hanging  over  the  breaff. — 
Legs  and  Jeet,  covered  with  great  fcales ;  the  firft  joint  of  the 
middle  toe  connefted  to  that  of  the  outmoft  by  a  firing  mem- 
brane.— Claws,  large,  little  hooked,  and  very  blunt. — Injides 
of  the  wings  covered  with  down. 

GEN.     1.        VULTURE. 

Charafters. — Bill,  ftraight,  blunt  at  the  tip. — Head,  feather- 
-lefs,  covered  behind  with  naked  fkin  or  foft  down. — Neck,  re- 
traftile. — Legs,  covered  with  fcales. — The  firft  joint  of  the 
middle  tot  connefted  to  the  outermoft  by  a  flrong  membrane. 

Of  this  genus  there  are  five  fpecies  in  America,  three  of 
which  are  found  in  the  United  States,  and  the  other  two  in 
South-America, 


S8a  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION' 

CEN.     2,        FALCO, 

Charafter. — Bill,  hooked,  furnifhed  at  its  bafc  with  a  ftrong 
membrane  or  cere. — Head  and  neck  covered  with  feathers.r^ 
Legs  and  Jcet  covered  with  fcales.  Middle  toe  connefted  with 
the  outmoft  by  a  ftrong  membrane.— C/^Jw/,  long,  much  hook- 
ed, that  of  the  outmoft  toe  the  leaft. — Female  larger  than  the 
male. 

This  genus  admits  of  four  divifions,  of  which  there  are  in 
America  as  follows  :  eagles,  ten  fpecies  ;  hawks,  fifteen  ; 
falcons,  thirteen  ;  kites,  two  ;  of  thefe  fome  are  peculiar  to 
South- America,  others  to  the  North,  and  fome  common  in  both. 

GEN.     3.        STRIX. 

Charafter. — Bill,  hooked,  without  a  cere. — NoJlriU,  oblong. 
——Eyes,  very  large  and  pvoiuberant,  furrounded  by  a  circle  of 
feathers. — Head,  large,  round,  and  full  of  feathers. — -Ears,  large 
and  open. — Outmoft  toe  verfatile. 

This  genus  contains  the  owls,  which  arc  ranged  in  two  di- 
vifions, the  eared  and  the  earlefs  ;  of  the  former  there  are  three 
fpecies,  and  of  the  latter  fourteen  fpecies  known  in  America. 

ORDER  11.     PIES. 

GEN.     1.        LANIUS. 

This  genus  includes  a  clafs  of  birds  that  form  the  connefting 
link  between  the  rapacious  birds  of  the  preceding  order  and 
the  pies  ;  they  are  called  Shrieks,  or  Butcher  birds  ;  their  bills 
are  ftraight,  hooked  only  at  the  ends.— To^^us  jigged  at  the 
point. — Toes  divided  at  the  origin.-— And  tail  cuneiform.  Of 
this  genus  there  are  fourLeen  fpecies  known  in  America  and 
the  We  ft- In  dies. 

GEN.     2,        PISTTACUS. 

This  genus  contains  the  whole  race  of  parrots,  parroquets, 
&.C.  Bill,  hooked  from  the  bafe  :  upper  mandible  moveable. — 
Nojtrils,  round,  and  placed  in  the  bafe  of  the  bill. — Tongue, 
broad  and  blunt  at  the  end. — Head,  large  ;  crown  fldt.— i.e^^, 
fhort.— 7"ofj,  two  backward  and  two  forward.  Of  this  there 
are  nearly  fifty  fpecies  known  in  South-America,  and  we  be- 
lieve only  one  or  two  in  North- America. 

GEN.     3.        RAMPHOSTOS. 

The  chara&er  of  this  genus  is — Bill,  exceeding  large,  hol- 
low, convex,  ferrated  outwards  ;  both  mandibles  curved  at  the 
ti^..-. Noj2rils,   frnall   and    round,  placed    dole   to   the    head.-— 


Pu/'Asfi^J  ly    SmitA.Ji.et.i/.ajtt/   TVay/ani/.    JVew-^r-/(:. 


OF    AMERICAN    BIRDS,  3gg 

Tongue,  long,  and  feathered  on  the  edges.— fVff  in  moft  of  the 
fpecics,  fcaniory.  It  contains  the  Toucans  and  Motmots ;  of 
the  former  there  are  nine  fpecies,  and  of  the  latter  only  one  ; 
they  are  fuppofed  to  be  peculiar  to  South-America. 

GE.V.    4.       CROTOPHAGUS. 

The  characters  of  this  genus  arc— Bill,  compreffed,  greatly 
arched,  half  oval,  thin,  cultrated  at  the  to^.—NoJlrils,  round.— 
T<)es,  two  backward  and  two  forward.— Ten  feathers  in  the  tail. 

The  only  bird  in  this  genus  is  the  Ani,  of  which  there  arc 
only  two  ipecies  ;  it  is,  we  believe,  peculiar  to  America. 

GEN.     5.        CORVUS. 

Bill,  (Irong,  upper  mandible  a  little  convex,  edges  cultrated, 
—  Nojlrils,  covered  with  briftles.  reflefted  over  th.e.m.— -Tongue^ 
divided  at  the  end.— Tow,  three  forward  and  one  backward, 
the  middle  joined  to  the  outmoft  as  far  as  the  firft  joint.  This 
genus  includes  the  ravens,  crows,  rooks,  jays  and  magpies, 
moft  of  which  occur  in  every  climate.  There  is  one  fpecies 
of  the  raven  ;  four  of  the  crow  ;  four  of  the  daw  ;  fix  of  .the 
jay ;  and  four  of  the  magpie.  Found  in  America  and  the 
Weft-Indies. 

GEN%    6.       CORACIA3. 

Bill,  ftraight,  bending  a  little  towards  the  end,  edges  quI' 
trated.—NoJirils,  narrow  and  naked.-— 7"(?«,  three  forward,  di- 
vided to  their  origin  ;  one  backward.  This  genus  contains 
the  Rollers,  of  which  there  are  two  fpecies  found  in  South- 
America, 

GEN.     'J,        ORIOLUS. 

Bill,  ftraight,  conic,  very  Iharp-pointcd,  edges  cultrated,  in- 
clining inwards,  mandibles  of  equal  \cagth.-—NoJ}rils,  fmall, 
placed  at  the  bale  of  the  bill,  and  partly  covered.— Tongue,  di- 
vided at  the  end.— Toes,  three  forward  and  one  backward  ;  the 
middle  joined  near  the  bafe  to  the  outmoft  one  behind.  The 
Oriolus  are  in  general  inhabitants  of  America ;  there  being 
twenty-feven  fpecies  enumerated  on  that  continent,  out  of  for- 
ty-five, all  that  are  known.* 

*  Of  this  genus  the  Balt-imore  Oriole  defcrves  paniculnr  notice  ;  the  head, 
tlifoat,  neck  and  upper  part  of  the  back  of  the  male,  is  delcribed  to  be  black; 
the  IcflcT  coverts  of  the  wings  orange ;  the  greater  black,  tipt  with  white ;  the 
brcaft,  belly,  lower  part  of  the  back,  and  coverts  of  the  tail,  of  a  bright 
orange;  the  primaries  dufky,  edged  with  white;  the  two  middle  feathers  of  the 
tail  black ;  the  lower  part  of  the  fame  colour,  the  remaining  part  orange  ;  and 
the  legs  black.  The  head  and  back  of  tlie  female  is  orange,  edged  with  pale 
brown ;  the  coverts  of  the  wings  of  the  fame  colour,  maxkcd  with  a  fingle  bsr 


584  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

GEN.     8.        GRACULA. 

JBiU^  convex,  knife  fhaped,  fomevvhat  naked  at  the  bafe, — . 
Tongue,  entire,  fomewhaf  enlarged  and  flefhy,  fharp  at  the  end. 
— ISoJlrils,  fmall,  near  the  bafe  of  the  bill. — Toes,  three  for- 
ward, one  backward  the  middle  connefted  at  the  bafe  to  the 
outmoft. — Claws,  hooked  and  fliarp.  Of  the  Grade,  which 
form  this  genus,  there  are  about  twelve  fpecies,  none  of  which 
are  found  in  Europe,  and  only  four  or  five  known  in  Ame- 
rica. 

GEN.    9.        TROGON. 

This  genus  embraces  a  clafs  of  South- American  birds,  inha- 
biting Cayenne  and  Brafil,  of  which  there  is  only  three  fpecies. 
They  have  the  bill  fhort,  thick  and  convex. — Ncjtrils,  covered 
with  thick  bridles. — Toes,  two  backward  and  two  forward.^ — 
Legs,  feathered  down  to  the  toes— -and  the  tail  confifling  of 
twelve  feathers. 


The  Tamatia,  or  Barbels,  that  conftitute  this  genus,  aie  like- 
wife  chiefly  South- American  birds  ;  on  that  part  of  the  con- 
tinent there  are  leven  fpecies  found,  but  none  to  the  North. 
The  bill  of  this  bird  is  ftrong,  ftraight,  bending  a  little  towards 
the  point  ;  bafe,  covered  with  fliong  briftles,  pointing  down- 
wards. —  Nojinls,  hid  in  the  feathers. — Toes,  two  backward  and 
two  forward,  divided  to  their  origin. — Tail,  confifting  of  leu 
weak  feathers. 

GEN.    11.       CUCULUS. 

or  the  Cuckoo,  wluch  forms  this  clafs,  there  are  five  fpecies 
fv^und  in  Noi  th-Amei  ica,  and  nine  in  the  South.  Charac- 
tsrs  of  this  genus  are,  bill,  weak,  a  little  bending.— -A'o/?rz7j, 
bounded  by  a  imail  rim. —  iono^iie,  fhort  and  pointed. — Toes^ 
two  forward  aiid  two  backward. —  Tail,  cuneated,  confifling  of 
ten  foft  feathers. 

of  wliiie;  the  under  fide  of  the  body  and  coverts  f>f  the  tail  yellow;  the  tail 
dufky,  edged  with  yellow.  The  length  both  of  the  male  and  female  is  fcven 
incli.'s.  Tliis  bird  fuTpends  its  ueft  to  the  horizontal  forks  of  the  tulip  and  pop- 
lar trees,  formed  of  the  filaments  of  fome  tough  plants,  curioufly  woven, 
Tfiixcd  witli  woo),  and  lined  with  hairs.  It  is  of  a  pear  (hapc,  open  at  top, 
with  a  }  ole  on  the  fide  through  which  the  young  difcharge  their  excrements,  and 
are  fed.  In  fome  parts  of  North-America,  thi.s  fpecies,  from  its  brilliant  cs- 
lour,  is  called  the  Fiery  H.ingneft.  It  is  named  the  Baltimore  bird  from  its 
colo-.irs,  r;!'cmbling  thofe  in  the  arm*  of  the  late  Lord  Baltimore,  whofe  family 
"were  proprietor.:  c£  M-zylaud. 


Vf  AMKHICAN  birds,  385 

GEN.     12.        PICUS. 

The  chara£idrS  of  this  genils  are — BiU,  ftraight,  ftrong,  an- 
gular, and  cuntated  at  the  end.- — •h'ojlrilsy  coveted  with  bii files, 
and  reflefted  ^own. -^-^Tonpie,  very  long,  flender,  cylindric, 
bony,  hard,  jagged  at  the  end,  mifTile.-^?".:!^^,  two  forward  and 
two  backward.—- T<zi7,  conflfling  of  ten  hard,  flifF,  fliarp- 
pointed  feathers.  This  genus  is  formed  of  the  Woodpeckers, 
which  may  be  divided  into  three  general  clalTes,  green,  black, 
aiid  variegated  or  fpotted  ;  of  the  green  Woodpecker,  eleven 
fpecies  have  been  found  in  America  ;  of  the  black,  fix  ;  and 
of  the  variegated  twenty-one  :  befides  two  fpecies  of  a  fmall 
bird  called  Woodpecker  Creepers,  the  Les  Pic  Griviper&aux  of 
Buff.  Thefe  latter  might  perhaps  be  with  more  propriety 
claffed  in  the  genus  Yunx. 

,  G£N.     13.        ALCEDb. 

liill^    l^ng,    ftrotig,     ftraight,    and     Iharp-pointed. Noflrib^ 

fiTiall,  and  hid  in  the  feathers.— Tongue,  fhort,  broad,  Iharp- 
pointed. — L'e'gs^  fhort,  three  toes  forward,  one  backward,  three 
lower  joints  of  the  middle  toe  joined  clofely  to  thofe  of  the 
outmoft.  This  genus  includes  the  King  Fifiiers,  which  M. 
Buifon  divides  into  three  claffes,  the  Great  King  Fifiier,  of 
which  there  are  iRVe  fpecies  found  in  America  ;  the  Middle 
King  Fifher,  of  which  there  are  likewife  five  fpecies  ;  and  t4ie 
Leaft  King  Fifher  of  Which  we  believe  only  one  fpecies  hasbeea 
found  on  the  new  continent. 

GEN.     14.        CALBULA. 

Of  thfe  Jacamars,  which  conftitute  this  genus,  we  believe 
there  are  only  three  fpecies  known,  and  all  found  in  South- 
America  ;  they  have  been  conhdered  by  many  as  a  fpecies  of  the 
King  Fifher,  and  therefore  claiTed  by  Llnnosus  ALedo  Galhula, 
The  principal  difference  in  charafter  is  in  the  le.^s  being  fea- 
thered before  to  the  toes,  and  the  toes  being  diipofed,  two 
backward  and  two  forward. 

GEN.     15.        SITTA. 

The  chai-afters  of  this  genus  are— Bill,  ftraight,  on  the  lower 
mandible  a  fmall  angle. — Aojtrils,  fmall,  covered  with  feathers 
reflefted  over  them, — -Tongue,  ftiort,  horny  at  the  edge,  and  jag- 
ged.—2  oa,  three  forward,  and  one  backward,  the  middle  tee 
joined  clofely  at  the  bafe  to  both  the  outmoft. — Back  toe  as  large 
as  the  middle  one.  The  chief  birds  which  form  this  genus  aie 
the  Nuthatches,  of  which  there  are  five  fpecies  found  in  Ame- 
rica, two  of  which  are  common  in  the  United- States. 

Vol.  IV.  3   D 


^86  GENERAL    DESCklPTIO  ^ 

G£N.     16.        TODUS. 

Bill,  thin,  dcprefTed,  broad,  bafe  befct  v/ith  brillles. —  NoJlriU, 
^mz\\.---Toes,  three  forward,  one  backward,  connefted  like  thofe 
of  the  King  Fifher.  This  genus  contains  the  Todies,  of  which 
there  are  eight  or  nine  fpecies  known,  all  natives  of  the  warm 
pans  of  America,   or  the  Weft- India  iflands. 

GEN,  1  y.  MEF.ors. 
The  bill  of  this  genus  is  quadrangular,  a  little  incurvated, 
fliarp  pointed.-— AV?ri/j,  fvnall,  placed  near  the  hzic— Tongue^ 
{lender.— Ttjfj,  three  forward  and  one  backward,  the  three 
kjwer  joints  of  the  middle  tee  clofcly  joined  to  thofe  of  the 
outmof^.  This  genus  contains  the  Bee  Eater,  of  which  five 
oj-  fix  Ipecies  have  been  found  in  America. 

GEX.     18.        UPUPA. 

The  charifter  of  this  genus  is— Bill,  arched,  long,  (lender, 
convex,  fcmcwhat  blunt  and  comprelTed.-— A'o/??-//j,  minute,  fitu- 
ated  at  the  bale  of  the  bill.-  — 7on^z/e,  obtufe,  entiie,  triangular^ 
and  fliort.— -7ofj,  three  forward  and  one  backward,  middle  toe 
clolfly  united  at  the  bafe  to  the  outmoft.-  This  genus  contains 
the  Hoopoes  and  the  Promerops,  but  there  are  only  two  fpe- 
cies of  the  latter  found  in  America^  and  thefe  in  the  foutherrk 
parts. 

CEN.     ig.        CERTKIA. 

Chariifters  of  this  genus  zxz— Bills,  very  flender,-  weak,  and 
ircurvated---iVo/?ri/j,  'iw.nW.-— Tongue,  net  fo  long  as  the  bill^ 
hard,  and  fliarp  at  the  point.— 7'oej,  three  forward  and  one. 
bnckward,  back  toe  large.— Ci^.zryj,  long  and  hooked.  This 
genus  contains  the  biids  commonly  called  Creepers,  of  which' 
there  are  twenty  fpecies  known  on  the  American  continent. 

GEN'.    20.      t:?ochilus. 

Bill,  {lender  and  v/eak  ;  in  fome  ftraight,  in  ethers  inCur-- 
vj.icd.---  Noprils,  xn'wMiiQ.— -Tongue,  very  long,  formed  of  two 
cor-joined  cyiindric  tubes,  m\{X\\z.—-Toes,  three  forward,  one 
bitkward.— 'i"tZ!/ ccnfiirs  cf  ten  feathers. 

This  genus  comprehends  the  various  Humming  Birds,  or  Ho- 
ney Suckers,  wliich  form  a  numerous  clafs,  not  lefs  than  hfty- 
fi.K  ipecies  are  found  in  the  different  parts  of  tiie  new  continent, 

ORDER  III.     GALLINACEOUS. 

Heavy  bodies,  fnoit  wings,  very  convex;  ftrong,  arched, 
flioit    bills;   the    upper  mandible  fhutting  over  the  edges  of  tho 


OF  AMERICAN  BIRDS.  3^^ 

5ower.  The  fiefh  delicate  and  of  excellent  nutrirrient  ;  flrong 
legs  ;  toes  joined  at  the  bafe,  as  far  as  the  firft  joint,  by  a  ftrong 
membrane.  Claws  broad,  formed  for  fcratching  up  the  ground. 
More  than  twelve  feathers  in  the  tail. 

Granivorous,  feminivorous,  infeftivorous,  fvvift  runners,  cf 
fliort  flight ;  often  polygamous,  very  prolific,  lay  their  eggs  ozi 
the  bare  ground.      Sonorous,   querelous,   and  pugnacious. 

Or,  with  bills  (lightly  convex  ;  granivorous,  feminivorous, 
infeftivorous  ;  long  legs,  naked  above  the  knees  :  the  genus  that 
connefts  the  land  and  the  water-fowl.  Agreeing  with  the  clo- 
ven-footed water-fowl  in  the  length  and  nakednefs  of  the  legs, 
and  the  fewnefs  of  its  eggs  :  difagreeing  in  place,  food,  and 
farm  of  bill,  and  number  of  feathers  in  the  taih 

GEN.      J.        PHASIANUS. 

This  genus  includes  the  cock  and  the  pheaGmts  ;  the  formej: 
?.re  domellicated  in  all  the  fettled  parts  of  America  ;  of  the 
latter  there  are  eight  fpecies  known  on  the  continent,  ail  natives 
of  South-America. 

Charafters  of  the  pheafant  are— -5u7,  convex,  fhort  and 
^rong.—N.)/irils,   fmall. — Tail,   bending  downwards. 

GKN.     2.        MELAGRl?. 

This  genus  contains  the  turkey,  of  which  but  one  fpecies  13 
known,  and  that,  though  domefiicated  in  mofl  countries,  is  a 
r,at:ve  of  North-America.-— £2/^,  convex,  fliort  and  flrong.— 
Njjlrils,  open,  pointed  at  one  end,  lodged  in  a  membrane.— 
Tongue,  floped  on  both  fides  toward  the  end  and  pointed.—- 
Head  and  Ntck,  covered  with  a  naked  tuberofe  ficfh,  with  a 
long  flcfhy  appendage  hanging  from  the  bafe  of  the  upper  man- 
dihlc— Tail,   broad,   confiding  of  eighteen  feathers  extenfiblc. 

GEN.     3,        CKAX. 

The  curaffo  forms  this  genus  as  well  as  the  Penelope.  Th.e 
charafters  are— Bill,  convex,  flrong  and  thick,  the  bale  cov- 
ered with  a  cere  often  mounted  with  a  large  v,oh. —  N ijlrits 
fmal!,  lodged  in  the  cere.--IIead,  fom.etimes  adorned  with  a  creft 
of  feathers  curling  forwards.-— T/zjY.  brge  and  ftraight.  Ther.e 
sre  four  fpecies  of  this  genus,  an-d  three  of  the  penelope  found 
in  South- America.  The  moft  effenti;:!  difference  in  the  two 
genufes  is,  that  the  Bill  in  thofe  of  the  penelope  is  naked  a,t 
jL.hc  bafe. 

S  D  2 


383  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

GZi;.    4.       TETRAO. 

This  genus  includes  three  fubdivifions :  1.  The  grous  and 
ptarmigans. —  Bill,  convex,  ftrong  and  fl^ort  ;  a  naked  fcarlet  ik'm 
above  each  eye. — Nojirils,  fmaU  and  hid  in  the  feathers.— TcH^i^f, 
pointed.— i-e^;,  feathered  to  the  toes.  Of  thefe  there  are  feven 
fpecies,  found  in  the  coldefl  parts  of  North-America. 

2.  The  partridges  and  quails;  thefe  have  no  naked  (kin  above 
the  eyes,— The  Noflrilf  are  Covered  with  a  callous  prominent 
rim  ;  and  the-  Le^f  naked,  with  the  exception  of  two  fpecie?. 
Of  thefe  there  are  eight  fpecies  found  in  the  temperate  and 
warm  parts  of  America. 

3,  The  tinamous,  which  are  peculiar  to  South-Anfierica,  and 
of  which  five  fpecies  are  known,  Thefe  birds  relemble  the 
pheafants  in  their  habits. — Bill,  long  and  blunt  at  the  tip. — 
Nojirils,  placed  in  the  middle  with  a  very  wide  gap.-.-TAroa<, 
I'prinkled  with  feathers.— TaiY,  very  fhort. — Hind  Toe,  curtailed 
and  ufelefs  for  running. 

GEN.    5.       PSOPHIA. 

This  genus  includes  tWo  fpecies  of  a  bird  called  thp  trumpet- 
er, one  of  which  is  found  in  Africa,  and  one  in  South-America  ; 
the  latter  is  called  the  agmi  or^golden-breafted  trumpeter,  of 
which  there  is  a  beautiful  fpecirneh  in  the  Leverian  Mufeum. 
Charafter  of  this  gcx\u^—Bdl,  fliort,  upper  mandible  a  little 
convex..— Nojirils,  oblong,  funk  and  Tperv'xous.—  Tangne,  cartila- 
ginous, flat,  torn  or  fringed  at  the  end,— Legs,  naked  a  little 
above  the  knees.— Toss,  three  before  and  one  behind,  with  a 
round  protuberance  beneath  the  hind  toe,  which  is  at  a  fnull 
dillnnce  from  the  ground, 

ORDER  IV.  COLUMBINE. 
Bill,  weak,  fiender,  (Iraight  at  the  bafe,  with  a  foft  protube- 
rant fubftance,  in  which  the  noftrils  are  lodged. — Tongue,  entire. 
• — Legs,  fhort  and  red..; — Toes,  divided  to  the  origin.  Swift  and 
dillant  flight,  walking  pace.  Plaintive  note,  or  cooing,  peculiar 
to  the  order.  The  male  inflates  or  fwclls  up  its  breail  in  court- 
fhip.  Female  lays  but  two  eggs  at  a  time.  Male  and  female  fit 
alternately,  and  feed  their  young,  ejefting  the  meat  out  of  their 
ftomachs  into  the  mouths  of  the  neftlings.  Granivorous,  fem- 
Jnivorous,  The  neft  fimple,  in  trees,  or  holes  of  rocks,  or 
walls, 

GE.V.     1.        COLUMBIA. 

There  is  only  one  genus  of  this  order  ;  it  is  therefore  needlefs 
to  repeat  the  charafters  ;  it  includes  the  pigeons  and  turtles,  of 
which  there  arc  known  in  different  parts  of  America  twelve 
fpecies. 


OF  AMERICAN  BIRDS.  ^^ 

ORDER  V.    PASSERINE. 

Bodies,  from  the  fize  of  a  thrufli  to  that  of  the  golden-creftcd 
wren.  The  enliveners  of  the  woods  and  fields  ;  fprightly  and 
much  in  motion  ;  their  nefts  very  artificial  ;  monogamous,  bac- 
civorous,  granivorous,  feminivorous,  infeftivorous  ;  their  ufual 
pace  hopping,  of  a  few  running.  Short  flyers,  except  on  their 
jnigrations  only.     All  have  three  toes  before,  one  behind. 

GEN.     I.       STURNUS. 

Bill,  ftraight,  depreffed. — Nojlrils,  guarded  aboi'C  by  a  promi- 
nent rim. —  Tongue,  hard  and  cloven. — Toes,  middle  toe  joined  to 
fhe  outmoft  as  far  as  the  firfh  joint.  The  flares  conftitute  this 
genus,  of  which  fJK  fpecies  only  are  found  in  America. 

CEN.    2.       fURDUS. 

Bill^  {Iratght,  ©btufely  corinated  at  top,  bending  a  little  at  the 
point,  and  flightly  notched  near  the  end  of  the  upper  mandible. 
— Nojlrils,  oval  and  naked. — Tongue,  flightly  jagged  at  the  end. 
— To-es,  the  middle  toe  joined  to  the  outmoft  as  far  as  the  firft 
joint. — Back  toe,  very  large.  This  genus  includes  the  thruflies 
and  blackbirds,  of  which  there  are  twenty-eight  fpecies  known 
in  America.  To  this  genus  we  muft  alfo  aflTign  a  race  of  birds 
chiefly  found  in  South- America^  called  ante  as,  on  account  of 
their  feeding  on  that  infe£t ;  they  are  defignated  American  and 
nightingale  ariters  ;  of  the  former  there  are  eight  fpecies  known, 
befides  varieties,  of  the  latter  only  two.  Latham  confiders  the 
whole  as  different  fpecies  of  the  thrufli,  and  Gmelin  is  evident- 
ly of  the  fame  opinion,  by  ranging  them  in  this  genus. 

GEN.    2»       AMPELIS, 

The  charafter  of  this  genus  is — Bill,  fl;raight,  a  little  convex 
aljove  and  bending  towards  the  point  ;  near  the  end  of  the  up- 
per mandible  a  Imall  notch  on  each  fide. — Nojlrils,  hid  in  briftles, 
■ — Middle  toe,  clolely  connefled  at  the  bafe  to  the  outmoft:.  This 
genus  comprehends  the  chatterers  or  cotingss,  of  which  there 
are  ten  fpecies  known  in  America. 

CEH.    4.        LOXIA. 

The  principal  charafters  of  this  genus  are — Biil,  conicallv 
bunched  at  the  bafe  of  the  front  rounded  tovvards  the  head, 
pnder  mandible  inflefted  in  its  natural  margin. — A'ojlrils,  placed 
It^  the  bafe  of  the  billj  minute  and  rounded. — Tongue,  entire. 


g<)<>  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

The  birds  in  America  of  tiiis  genus  are  the  grofbcaks.  crofs? 
bills,  and  bulfinches  ;  of  the  two  former  there  arc  about  twen- 
ty fpecies,  and  of  the  latter  five,  known  upon  the  American 
continent. 

GEN.    5.       ZMBERIZA. 

The  charafters  of  this  genus  which  includes  the  buntings  arc 
— Billy  ftrong  and  ccmic,  the  fides  of  each  majidible  bending 
inwards  ;  in  the  roof  of  the  upper  a  hard  knob,  of  ufe  to  break 
and  comminute  hard  feeds.  There  are  fixtcen  fpecies  of  this 
bird  known  in  America. 

GEN.    6.       TANGARA. 

The  tangares  which  form  t'his  genus  are  almofl  all  of  them 
natives  of  America  ;  there  are  only  forty-fix  fpecies  known 
forty-three  of  which  have  been  found  on  that  continent.  The 
charafters  are — Bill^  conoid,  a  little  inclining  towards  the  point, 
upper  mandible  flightly  ridged  and  notched  at  the  end, 

GEN.    7.        F^INGILLA. 

This  extenfive  and  multifarious  genus  includes  the  finches, 
canaries,  fifkins,  linnets  and  fparrows,  all  of  which,  the  canaries 
excepted,  are  found  in  America,  to  the  amount  of  near  fixty 
fpecies  :  the  diftinguifi-jing  charafter  of  this  genus  is  the  Bill^ 
perfeftly  conic,  flender  towards  the  end,  and  very  fharp  pointed, 

GEN.    8.        PnYTOTOMA. 

There  is  only  one  fpecies  of  this  genus  known,  which  is  the 
rara  of  South-America.  Its  diftinguifhing  charafters  are — Bill^ 
conical,  ftraight  and  ferrated, — Nojirils,  oval. — Tongue,  (hort  and 
blunt  ;  it  fcreams  with  a  raucous  interrupted  voice,  crops  and 
<ears  up  the  tender  plants,  and  makes  molt  deftruftive  vifits  to 
gardens. 

GEN.    9.       MUSCICAPA. 

'The  chambers  of  this  genus  are — Bill,  flatted  at  the  bafe, 
almoft  triangular,  notched  at  the  end  of  the  upper  mandible, 
and  befet  with  briftles. — Toes,  divided  aj  far  as  their  origin. 
The  fiy-catchers  conftitute  this  genus,  of  which  thirty-nine 
fpecies  are  known  in  America. 

GEN.     10.       ALAUDA, 

Bill,  fiiort,  (lender,  bending  a  little  towards  the  end,  fharp 
pointed, — Noftrils,  covered  with  feathers  and  briftles, — Tongue, 
cloven  at  the  end. — Toes^  divided  to  the  origin, — Claw,  of  the 
back  toe  very  long.  This  genus  is  formed  of  the  larks,  of  which 
there   are,  we  believe,  only  fix  fpecies  yet  found  in  America, 


^F   AMERICAN  BIRDS.  ^ji 

GEN.     11.        MOTACILIA. 

The  characters  of  this  genus  are — Bill,  awl  fhaped,  flraight, 
fhe  mandibles  nearly  equal. — Nojirils,  nearly  oval. —  Tongue,  jag- 
ged and  notched.  The  birds  found  in  America  which  are  in- 
cluded in  this  genus  are,  the  wagtail  tVi:o  fpecies ;  the  v/arblerJ 
and  wrens  eighteen  fpecies ;  the  fauvette  or  petty  chaps  five 
fpecies  ;  the  fig-eaterS  twenty-eight  fpecies  ;  the  pitpits  fivd 
fpecies ;  the  red  ftart,  yellow  neck  worm-eater,  middle  bill, 
Guiana  red  tail,  &c.  one  or  two  fpecies  each. 

GEN.    12.        pIpRA. 

This  genus  includes  the  manakins,  of  which  there  are  known 
about  twenty-fix  fpecies,  rrioft  of  them  natives  of  the  hot  partj 
of  America.  Charafters — Bill,  fliort,  flrong  and  hard,  llightly 
incurVated. — Nojirils,  naked. —  Toes,  the  middle  clofely  united 
with  the  outmoft  as  far  as   the  tliird  joint. — Tail,  fhort, 

GEN.     13.        PARUS. 

Charafters — Bill,  flraight,  a  little  compreffed,  flrong,  hard, 
and  fharp-p'ointed. — Nojirils,  round  and  covered  with  briflles 
reflefted  over  them. — Tongue,  as  if  cut  off  at  the  end,  and  ter- 
minated by  three  or  four  briflles. — Toes,  divided  to  their  origin  ; 
back  toe  very  large  and  ilrong.  This  genus  is  formed  of  the 
titmice,  a  remarkable  prolific  race,  laying  from  eighteen  to  twen- 
ty eggs  at  an  hatch.  There  appears  to  be  about  fifteen  fpecies 
known  in  America. 

GEN.     14.        Ill  RUN  DO. 

The  charafters  of  this  genus  arc — Bill,  fhort,  broad  at  the  bafe, 
fmall  at  the  point,  and  a  little  bending. — Nojirils,  open. — Tongue^ 
fhort,  broad  and  cloven, —  Legs,  fhort. — Tail,  forked, — IVinp-y^ 
long.  It  includes  the  fwallows,  martins  and  fwifts,  of  wliich 
there  are  eleven  Ipecies  known  in  America. 

Gen.     15.        CAPRIMULGUS. 

Bill,  fliort,  hooked  at  the  end,  and  llightly  notched  near  the 
point. — Nojirils,  tubular  and  a  little  prominent. — Mouth,  vaftly 
wide  ;  on  the  edges  of  the  upper  part,  between  the  bili  and  eyes, 
feven  flifF  brillle?. — Tongue,  fmall,  entire  at  the  end. — Legs, 
fhort,  feathered  before  as  low  as  the  toes. —  Toes,  joined  by  a 
flrong  membrane  as  far  as  the  firfl  joint. — Clazo  of  the  middle 
toe  broad-edged  and  ferrated. — Tail  confifls  of  ten  feathers,  not 
forked.  This  genus  includes  tlie  goat  fuckers,  forming  fifteen 
fpecies,  fourteen  of  which,  according  to  fome,  arc  natives  of 
America,  according  to  others,  are   nine   only. 


393  GENERAL   J^ESCRlPfld^ 

ORDER  Vi.     STRUTHIOUS. 

Very  gi-eat  and  heavy  bodies.  Wings  imperfeft  ;  very  fmalL 
and  ufelefs  for  flight,  but  affiftant  in  running.  Flefli  coarfe  and 
hard  of  digeftion. 

Struthiozu  is  a  new  coined  word  to  exprefs  this  order :  for 
thcle  birds  could  not  be  reduced  to  any  of  the  Linnsean  divifions. 

This  order  contains  but  two  genera,  the  dodo  and  the  oftrich  • 
of  tiie  firft   none  have  been  found  in   America. 

GEN.    STRUTHIO. 

The  charafterS  of  this  genus  are — Bill,  fmall,  floping,  and  a 
little  deprefred."-rrV??^j,  fmall,  unfit  for  flight.— Ze^j,  long, 
ftrong,  and  naked  above  the  knees.  It  includes  the  oftrich  tribe, 
being  four  fpecies,  onfe  only  of  which,  the  touyou,  or  grey  cafo- 
wary,  is  found  in  America  ;  it  is  fix  feet  high,  and  in  its  habits, 
&c.  is  in  many  refpefts  fimilar  to  the  oflrich,  to  which,  howeverj 
it  is  much  inferior. 


..<..<..<..<..,  ^  *^><^  ^  y->.-V.i>.>..=^ 


DiV.  II.     WATER-FOWL. 


For  the  moft  part  migratory,  (hiftirig  from  climate  to  climatej 
from  place  to  place,  in  order  to  lay  their  eggs,  and  bring  up 
their  young  in  full  fecurity  ;  the  thinly  inhabited  north  is  thciT 
principal  breeding  plaCe ;  returning  at  ftated  periods,  and,  in 
general,  yielding  to  mankind  delicious  and  wholefome  nutriment. 
All  the  cloven-footed,  or  mere  waders,  lay  their  eggs  on  the 
ground  ;  thofe  with  pinnated  feet  form  large  hefi:s,  either  in 
the  water  or  near  it.  From  the  firft  we  muft  except  the  heron 
and  the  night-heron,  which  build  in  trees. 

All  the  web-footed  fowl  either  lay  their  eggs  on  the  ground, 
or  on  the  fhelves  of  lofty  clifFs ;  and  none  perch,  except  the 
CQrvorant,  ihugg,  and  one  or  two  fpecies  of  ducks. 

All  the  cloven-footed  water  fowl  have  long  necks  and  long 
I'-gs,  naked  above  the  knees,  for  the  convenience  of  wading  in 
water  in  fearch  of  their  prey.  Thofe  that  prey  on  fifli  have 
llrong  b:}!i  ;  thofe  that  Icarch   for  minute    infefts,  or  worms  that 


op  AMERICAN  BIRDS,  395 

lurk  in  mud,  have  (lender  weak  bills,  and  olfaflory  nerves  of 
moft  exquifite  fcnfe ;  for  their  food  is  out  of  fight. 

As  the  naihe  irtiplies,  their  toes  are  divided,  fome  to  their 
Origin;  others  have,  between  the  middle  ami  outmoft  loe,  a 
fmall  membrane  as  far  as  the  firft  joint.  Others  have  both  the 
exterior  toes  connefted  to  the  middlemoft  in  the  fame  manner  ; 
and,  in  a  faw,  thofe  webs  reach  as  far  as  the  fecond  joint ;  and 
fuch  are  called  Semipalmati, 

Of  the  web-footed  fowl,  the  Flamingo^  the  Avofetta  and 
Courier,  partake  of  the  nature  of  both  the  cloven  and  web- 
footed  orders ;  having  webbed  feet,  long  legs,  naked  above 
the  knees,  and  long  necks.  The  other  web-footed  water-fowl 
being  very  much  on  the  clement,  have  (hort  legs,  placed  far 
behind,  and  long  necks  ;  and,  when  on  land  (by  reafon  of  the 
lituation  of  their  legs)  an  aukward  waddling  gait. 

The  make  of  the  cloven-footed  water-fowl  is  light,  both  aS 
to  (kin  and  bones ;  that  of  the  web-footed  (Irong, 

ORDER  I.    CLOVEN-FOOTED. 

C£N.    1.       PLATELEA. 

The  bird  which  conftitutes  this  genus  is  the  Spoonbill,  of 
"which,  according  to  Linnaeus  and  Briflfon,  there  are  three  fpc- 
cies  ;  but  M.  BufFon  contends  that  there  is  only  one,  and  that 
the  other  two  are  varieties ;  whether  varieties  or  different  fpe- 
cies,  two  out  of  the  three  are  found  in  South-America  and  the 
Weft-Indies. — The  Bill  is  long,  broad  and  thin,  the  end  widen- 
ing into  a  form  like  the  bowl  of  a  fpoon,  rather  round  at  the 
end. — Nojlrils,  fmall,  placed  near  the  bafe. — TonguCj  fmall  and 
pointed. — Feet^  fcmipalmated. 

GEN.    2.       PALAMEDfiA. 

The  charaflers  of  this  genus  are — Bill,  bending  down  at  the 
point,  with  a  horn  or  with  a  tuft  of  feathers  ereft  near  the  bafe 
of  the  bill. — •Nojlrils,  oval. — Toes,  divided  almofl  to  their  origin 
with  a  very  fmall  membrane  between  the  bottoms  of  each. 
The  bird  which  conftitutes  this  genus  is  the  fcreamer,  of  which 
there  is  only  two  fpecies  found  in  South- America.  The  horned 
fcreamer  has  likewife  on  each  wing  two  long  fpurs  ;  the  horn 
on  its  head  is  three  or  four  inches  long,  and  two  or  three  lines 
in  diameter  at  the  bafe:  of  the  fpurs  on  the  wings,  which  prc-^ 
jcct  forward,    and  arc  the  apophyfes  of   the  metacarpal  bone^ 

3E 


394  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 

rifing  from  the  anterior  part  of  thefe  extremities,  the  uppe? 
fpur  is  larged,  of  a  triangular  form,  two  inches  long,  and  nine 
lines  broad  at  the  bafe,  fomewhat  curved,  and  terminating  in  a 
point ;  the  lower  fpur  is  only  four  lines  long,  and  of  the  fame 
bieadih  at  its  origin. 

GEN.    3.       MYCTERIA. 

Of  the  Jjbirou,  which  forms  this  genus,  onl)'  one  fpccies  is 
known  ;  it  is  an  Inhabitant  of  South-America. — Bill,  long  and 
large,  both  mandibles  bending  upivards,  the  upper  triangular.— 
A'o/lrils,  fmall  :  according  to  Marcgrave,  no  tongue. — Toes, 
»«hvided.  The  bird  is  ss  large  as  a  fwan,  the  neck  thick,  and 
the  bill  in  general  menlures  about  thirteen  inches. 

GEN.     4.        CANCROMA. 

Bill,  broad,  flat,  with  a  keel  along  the  middle,  like  a  boat  re- 
vcried. — Nojlrils,  fmall,  lodged  in  a  furrow. — Toes,  divided. 
The  bird  forming  this  genus  is  the  Boatbill,  a  bird  approaching 
by  its  manners  the  heron  tribe.  Linnreus  mentions  two  fpecies, 
!)Ut  it  appears  there  is  only  one  and  two  varieties  j  it  is  a  native 
of  South- America. 

GEN.     5.        ARDEA. 

The     chara^iers    of    this    genus    are Bill,     flright,     fharp, 

long,  flnttiih.  with    a    furrow    extending    from   the    noftrils    tdi 

the    tip. Nojlrils,     linear, — Tmgue,     fharp. — Feet,    four-toed. 

This  genus  contains,  the  herons,  florks,  cranes  and  bitterns : 
they  are  ranged  in  five  fubdivifions  ;  the  crowned,  whofe 
b;ll  is  fcarcly  loriger  than  the  head  ;  the  cranes,  whofe  head 
is  b;ild  ;  tlie  (loiks,  whofe  orbits  are  naked  ;  the  herons,  whofe 
mfd  toe  is  ferrated  inwards  ;  and  thofe  which  have  the  bill 
gaping  in  the  middle.  Of  the  ftorks  there  are  two  fpecies 
found  in  America,  and  two  of  the  crane  :  a  figure  of  one  of 
which,   the    Hooping    Crane,   we   have    given.*      Of  the  herons 


*  It  is  as  tall  as  oar  largeft  cranes,  but  of  a  flronge'r  and  tMcker  make,  itj 
bill  longer,  its  head  bigger;  iis  neck  and  legs  not  fo  flender  ;  all  the  plumage  is 
•white,  except  the  great  quills  of  the  wings,  which  are  black,  and  the  head, 
which  is  brown;  the  crown  is  callous  and  covered  with  black  hairs,  draggling 
and  delicate,  under  which  the  reddifli  fkin  appears  naked  ;  a  fimilar  (kin  covers 
the  cheeks  :  the  tuft  of  loofe  feathers  in  the  tail  is  flat  and  pendant :  the  bill  is 
furrowed  above,  and  indented  at  the  edges  near  the  tip ;  it  is  brown  and  fix 
Miches  Jong.  Catefby  has  defcribed  this  bird  from  an  entire  fkin  given  him  by 
an  Indian,  who  told  him  that  thefe  birds  frequent,  in  great  numbers,  the  lower 
parts  of  the  rivers  near  the  fea  in  the  beginning  of  fpring,  and  return  to  the 


OF    AMERICAN    BIRDS.  '  395 

fhirty-feven  fpecies   are   known    on   that    continent,    and   nine 
fpecies  of  the  bittern. 

CEN.    6.       TANTALUS. 

The  bird  which  forms  this  genus  is  the  Ibis,  of  which  t\vo 
fpecies  only  are  found  on  the  new  continent,  and  both  in  the 
fouthern  part.  Charafters — Bill,  long,  thick  at  the  bale,  wholly 
incurvated. — Eyes,  lodged  in  the  bale. — Fact,  naked. — Nqfirils, 
linear. — Tongue,  fliort  and  broad. — Toes,  connefled  at  the  bale 
by  a  membrane. 

GEN.    7.       SCOLOPAX,  4r 

This  genus  contains  a  variety  of  fpecies,  known  by  the  names 
of  Curlews,  Whimbrels,  Snipes,  Woodcocks,  Godwits,  Red 
Shanks,  Green  IShanks  and  Yellow  Shanks.  They  may  all, 
however,  be  ranged  under  two  names.  Curlews  and  Snipes  ;  of 
the  former  (the  charafters  of  which  are — Bill,  I'^ng,  {lender  and 
incurvated.— i^acf,  covered  with  feathers.— A'oy2rz7i,  longitudinal 
near  the  bale. —  Tongue,  fliort  and  fliarp  pointed.— -7o«,  conneft- 
«d  together  as  far  as  the  firll  joint  by  a  ftrong  membrane)  there 
are  eight  fpecies  in  America  ;  of  the  latter  nineteen  Ipccies. 
Charatlers— -BjY/,  long,  flender,  ftraight  and  weak."-A'o/?rz/^, 
linear,  lodged  in  a  furrow.— Tow^we,  pointed  and  flender.— 
Toes,  divided  or  very  flightly  cofijiefted  ;  back  toe  very 
fmall, 

mountains  in  fummcr.  "  This  faft,"  fays  Catcfty,  "  has  been  fince  confirmed 
by  a  white,  who  informed  me,  that  thefe  cranes  are  very  noify,  and  are  feen  in 
the  Savannas  at  the  mouth  of  the  Altamaha,  and  other  rivers  near  St.  Auguf- 
tine  in  Florida,  and  alfo  in  Carolina,  but  that  they  are  never  found  further 
north." 

Yet  it  is  certain  that  they  advance  into  the  higher  latitudes  ;  for  the  fame 
white  cranes  are  found  in  Virginia,  in  Canada,  and  even  in  Hudfon's  bay, 
as  Edwards  remarks.- — The  fpecific  charafter  of  the  hooping  crane,  Ardea 
Americana,  h,  "  Its  top,  its  nape  and  its  temples,  are  naked  and  papilloui  ; 
its  front,  its  nape,  and  its  primary  wing  quills  are  black  ;  its  body  is  white  ; 
the  extreme  length  is  five  feet  feven  inches."  We  extratl  the  following 
paffage  relating  to  thefe  birds  from  Mr.  Pennant's  ArClic  Zoology  :  "  They 
rnake  a  remarkable  hooping  noife  ;  this  makes  me  imagine  thefe  to  have  beea 
the  birds,  whofe  clamour  Captain  Phillip  Amidas  (the  firft  Engliihmaji  who 
ever  fetfoot  on  North-America)  lo  graphically  defcribes,  on  his  landi;ig  on 
the  ifle  of  Wokokou,  off  the  coaft  of  North-Carolina  '  When,'  fays  he, 
*  fuch  a  flock  of  cranes  (the  moft  part  white)  arofe  under  us  vilh  fuch  a  cry, 
redoubled  by  many  echoes,  as  if  an  army  of  men  had  Ihouted  together.' 
This  was  in  the  month  of  July,  which  proves',  that  in  thofe  early  days  this 
fpecies  bred  in  the  then  defert  parts  of  the  fouthern  provinces,  till  driven 
away  by  population,  as  was  the  cafe  with  the  common  crane  in  England, 
■which  abounded  in  our  undraincd  fens  till  cultivation  forced  them  entirely 
to  (juit  our  kingdom."     Vol.  ii.  pag.-  443. 

3   ^    a 


39^  CENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

GEN,    8.       TRINGA. 

The  birds  found  in  America  in  this  genus  are  known  by  &• 
veral  popular  names,  as  the  Turnftone,  Knot,  Lapwing,  Pur- 
res,  Sandpipers,  &c.  They  may  almofl  all  be  claffed  under 
the  name  Sandpiper,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  about  eleven 
fpecies,  CharaGers-r— jSzV^,  Itiaight,  flender,  about  an  inch  and 
a  half  long.— A o/?ri7j,  fmall. —  Tongue,  flender. — Toes,  divided, 
generally  the  two  outmoft  connefled  at  bottom  by  a  fmall  mem^ 
brane. 

CEK.    9,       CHARADRIUS. 

Of  the  Plover,  which  conftitutes  this  genus,  there  are  ten 
known  fpecies  in  America.  Charafters — Bill,  ftraight,  {hort 
zs  the  head.— A'O/Zn/j,  linear  ;  wants  the  back  toe, 

GEN.     10.       PfMATOyVS, 

A  fingle  fpecies  conftitutes  this  genus  :  it  is  called  the  Oyf- 
ter  Catcher ;  common  to  the  old  and  new  continents.rrr-Its  BilH 
is  long,  comprefled,  and  the  end  cuneated.—r^A^^rt/j,  linear.— »• 
Tongue,  fcarce  one-third  of  the  length  of  the  bill. — Toes,  only 
three,  the  middle  one  joined  to  the  exterior  by  a  ftrong  mem- 
brane ;  by  the  help  of  the  bill  raifes  limpets  from  the  rocks, 
and  opens  oyflers,  on  which  it  feeds. 

GEN.     11.       PARRA. 

The  Jacana's  conftitute  this  genus,  of  which  ten  fpecies  are 
found  in  various  parts  of  South-America,  chiefly  in  Brafil.— 
The  Bill  is  flender,  fharp-pointed,  bafe  carunculated. — Nojirilsf 
fhort,  fubovated,  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  bill. — Wings, 
armed  on  the  front  joint  with  a  fharp  fhort  fpur. — Toes,  long, 
four  on  each  foot,  armed  with  very  long  and  fliort  fliarp-pointed 
claws,  from  which  circumftance  it  has  by  fome  been  called  the 
Surgeon. 

GEN,     12,        RALLUS. 

Bill,  flender,  a  little  comprefled  and  flightly  incurvated.— 
Nojirils,  fmall. — Tongue,  rough  at  the  end, — Body,  much  com- 
prefled.— Tail,  very  fliort.  Of  the  rails,  which  form  this  ge- 
nus,  there  are  feven  fpecies  found  on  the  new  continent, 

GEN.     13.        FULICA. 

The  Gallinule  or  Water-hen  forms  ih'S  genus,  of  which  feven 
fpecies  are  found  in  different  parts  of  the  new  continent.— 
The  Bill  of  this  bird  is  thick  at  the  bafe  floping  to  the  point ; 
the  upper  mandible  reaching  far  up  the  forehead,  and  not  car- 
ncous, — Body  J  comprefled.—- ff-'in^x,  fhort   and   concave-— Jew, 


.v\  F  O   §  33  T 


OF  AMERICAN  BIRDS.  397 

long   and  divided   to  the  origin,-— 5  fli/,    (hort,  about  the  fize 
of  a  common  pullet  fix  months  old. 

ORDER  II.     WITH  PINNATED  FEET. 

This  order  contains  only  the  Phalarope,  the  Coot,  and  the 
Glebe. 

The  Phalaro?e.  This  bird  is  claffed  by  Linnaeus  in  the 
tringa  genus  ;  but  Briffon  forms  a  new  genus,  under  the  name 
of  Phalaropus,  from  the  fcallops  on  its  toes.  There  are  three 
fpecies  of  it  found  in  America.  Charafters-— 5i74  ftraight  and 
{[cuder.—NoJlrils,  minute,— Body  and  Legs  in  every  refpeft  like 
the  fandpiper.— To^x,   furnifhed  with  fcalloped  membranes. 

The  Coot.  This  bird  is  found  in  America  as  well  as  in 
Europe;  it  frequents  ponds  and  lakes,  and  may  be  confidercd 
as  the  beginning  of  the  extenfive  tribe  of  true  acquatic  birds, 
zs  it  is  almoft  conftantly  on  the  water.— Its  Bill  is  (hort,  ftrong, 
thick  at  the  bafe,  floping  to  the  end,  the  bafe  of  the  upper  man- 
•dibl--;  rifing  far  up  the  forehead,  both  mandibles  of  equal  length* 
m^'NojirilSy  inclining  to  oval,  narrow  and  fhort.— ^o^  com- 
preiTed.— J-Fm^j,  fliort. — TaiY  fhort. — Toes,  long,  furniihed  with 
broad  fcalloped  membranes.  The  coot  is  clafl'ed  by  Linnaeus  in 
the  fuUca  of  the  preceding  order,  but  the  fcalloped  membranes 
of  its  feet  certainly  removes  it  from  that  genus,  however  it  may 
agree  in  other  refpefts. 

The  Glebe,  The  Bill  of  this  bird  is  ftrong,  flender  and 
fiiarp-pcixited.---iVo/?n7j,  linear. — Tongue,  flightly  cloven  at  the 
end. — Body,  deprelTed. —  Feathers,  thick-fet,  compaft,  very 
imooth  and  gloffy.— No  tail. —  Wings,  {hon.—Legs,  placed  very 
far  behind,  very  thin,  or  much  comprefTed,  doubly  ferrated 
behind.— Tow,  furnifhed  on  each  fide  with  a  broad  plain  menr- 
brane.  Linnaeus  has  clalled  thefe  birds  with  the  web-footed, 
by  the  name  of  Colymbri ;  but  Briffon  has  feparated  them,  and 
from  the  make  of  their  feet,  they  could  not  with  propriety  be 
claffed  with  them.  The  Glebes  are  divided  into  two  claffes, 
the  greater  and  the  chelnut  or  caftageneux,  of  each  of  which 
there  are  three  fpecies  on  the  new  continent, 

ORDER  III.     WEB-FOOTED. 

C£N.     1.        RECURVIROSTRA. 

This  genus  contains  the  Avofets,  of  which  there  are  but 
two  fpecies,  one  of  which  is  found  in  America.  The  legs  of 
the  avofet,  like  the  flamingo,  contrary  to  mod  of  the  web-foot- 
ed birds,  are  very  long  ;  it  has  likewile  another  lingular  cha- 
rafter,  viz,  the  inverfion  of  its   bill,  which  is   bent  into  the 


'398  GENERAL    DESCRIPTION 

arc  of  a  circle  ;  the  fubftance  of  the  bill  is  foft  and  almoft 
membranous  at  its  tip. — Head,  neck,  and  upper  part  of  the  body, 
of  a  pale  buff  colour ;  the  reft  of  the  lower  part  of  the  body, 
white. — Back  and  primaries  black  ;  lefler  coverts  white,  great- 
er black  ;  beneath  which  is  a  long  tranfverfe  bar  of  white.—- 
Legs,  du(ky  colour. — Feet,  femipalmated,  the  webs  bordering  on 
the  fides  of  the  toes  for  a  confiderable  way.  It  is  a  native  of 
North-America,  and  Mr.  Pennant  imagines  they  are  fometimes 
found  entirely  white, 

GEN.    2.       PHOEKICOPTERUS. 

This  genus  includes  but  one  fpecies,  the  Flammant  or  Fla- 
mingo,—5i7/,  thick,  large,  bending  in  the  middle,  forming  a 
fliarp  angle,  the  higher  part  of  the  upper  part  carinated,  the 
lower  comprefled  ;  the  edges  of  the  upper  mandible  fharply 
denticulated,  of  the  lower  tranfverfely  fulcated. — Nojirils,  cov. 
ered  above  with  a  thin  plate,  pervious,  linearly  longitudinal.— 
^Tongue,  cartilaginous  and  pointed  at  the  end  ;  the  middle  muf-- 
cular,  bafe  glandular,  on  the  upper  part  aculnted.— ^ifc^,  very 
Xong.— Head,  large. — Legs  and  thighs  of  a  great  length.— i^e«?, 
webbed,  the  webs  extending  as  far  as  the  claws,  but  are  deeply 
femilunated. — Back  toe,  very  fmall.  When  this  bird  has  at. 
tained  its  full  growth,  it  is  not  heavier  than  a  wild  duck,  and 
is  yet  five  feet  high,* 

GEN,    3.       DIOMEDA. 

Charafters — Bill,  ftrong,  bending  in  the  middle,  and  hooked 
at  the  end  of  the  upper  mandible  ;  that  of  the  lower  mandible 
abrupt,  and  the  lower  part  inclining  downwards. — Nojirils, 
opening  forward,  and  covered  with  a  large  convex  guard.— No 
back  toe.  The  birds  in  this  genus  are  the  Albatroffes.  Thefe 
birds,  which  in  the  bulk  of  their  bodies  are  fuperior  to  all  the 
known  fpecies  of  water-fowl,  inhabit  the  (hores,  iflands  and  feas 
within  the  tropics,  along  the  coaft  of  Chili,  and  the  extremities 
of  America,  but  it  never  has  been  feen  in  the  feas  of  the  nor». 
them   hemifpheie. 

GEN,    4.       ALCA, 

The  Auks  form  this  genus,  of  which  there  are  four  fpecies 
found  about  the  new  continent.  Characters — Bill,  thick,  ftrong, 
convex,  and  compreffed. — Nojirils,  linear,  placed  near  the  edge 
of  the  mznA\h\t.-^Tongue,  almoft  as  long  as  the  bill, — No  back 
tc>t, — Black  on  the  back  and  white  beneath. 


Catefbyr. 


OF  AMERICAN  BIRDS.  ^jgi, 

GEN.    5.        COLYMBUS. 

The  web-footed  birds  in  this  genus,  that  can  be  confidered  as 
belonging  to  America,  are  only  one  fpecies  of  the  Guillemot 
and  two  of  the  Diver.  The  charafters  of  the  former  are — Biiif 
flender,  ftrong  and  pointed,  upper  mandible  flightly  bending 
towards  the  end  ;  bafe  covered  with  Ihort  foft  feathers.— 
JSIoJirils,  lodged  in  a  hollow  near  the  bafe.— Tore^we,  flender,  al- 
moft  the  length  of  the  bill. — No  back  toe. — Colour,  in  general, 
black  on  the  back,  and  white  on  the  breaft.  Its  weight  is  about 
twenty  ounces. 

The  hill  of  the  diver  is  ftrong  and  pointed,  upper  mandible 
the  longeft,  edges  of  each  bending  inwards. — blojlrils,  linear, 
upper  part  divided  by  a  fmall  cutaneous  appendage.-— Ton^jie, 
long  and  pointed,  ferrated  at  each  fide  near  the  bafe. — Legs, 
very  thin  and  flat.— ^ Tow,  the  exterior  the  longeft,  back  toe 
fmall,  joined  to  the  interior  by  a  fmall  membra ne,"-7fltV,  fliort. 
This  bird  is  about  the  fize  of  a  goofe, 

GEN.    6,        RVNCHOPS. 

This  genus  contains  only  a  lingle  fpecies  and  a  variety,  both 
natives  of  North-America  :  it  is  fometimes  called  the  Skimmer, 
from  the  manner  in  which  it  collefts  its  food  on  the  water  with 
the  lower  mandible  ;  by  others  it  is  called  the  Shearbill  and 
Cutwater.— The  bill  of  this  bird  is  greatly  comprefled,  lower 
mandible  much  larger  than  the  up^er.—NoJirils,  linear  and  per- 
vious.— A  fmall  back  toe. — Tail,  a  little  forked.  In  its  habits 
and  figure  it  refembles  the  gulls, 

GEN.     7.        STERNA. 

This  genus  Contains  the  Terns  and  the  Nodies  :  of  the  for- 
mer there  are  feven  fpecies,  all  of  which  are  found  about  the 
feas  of  America ;  of  the  latter  we  know  of  but  one  common. 
to  the  fame  fituations  ;  indeed  it  is  nothing  but  a  fpecies  of  the 
tern  rather  fmaller.  Ch?irdQ.ers—  Bill,  fhort,  flender  and  point- 
ed.—iV(y?n7i-,  linear. — Tongue,  flender  and  ftiarp.— fFin^f,  very 
long,— A  fmall  back  toe, — Tail,  forked. 

GEN.    8.        lARUS. 

The  charafters  of  this  genus,  which  comprehends  the  Gulls 
and  Mews,  names  which  only  diftinguifti  this  family  into  the 
greater  and  lefler  gulls,  zre—Bill,  ftrong,  bending  down  at  the 
point,  on  the  under  part  of  the  lower  mandible  an  angular 
prominency.— iVo/ZnYj-,  oblong  and  narrow,  placed  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  bill. —  Tongue,  a  little  cloven,— i5<?<^,  light.— fFznjj, 
long.— Xf^j,  fmall,  naked   above  the  knecs.'-'Back  toe^  fmail,— 


4C0  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

Briffon  has  eighteen  fpecies  of  this  genus,   and  we  are  inclined 
to  think  them  as  common  to  the  {hores  of  America  as  Europe. 

GEN.    9,       PXOCEtLAftrA. 

The  Petercl,  which  forms  this  genus,  inhabits  all  parts  of  the 
ocean  ;  tt  braves  and  fports  with  the  moft  furious  florms,  and 
fome  of  the  fpecies  feem  to  enjoy  thofe  tremendous  fcenes 
which  fink  the  courage  of  the  braveft  men  :  they  are  found 
in  great  plenty  in  the  fcas  near  the  cape  of  Good  Hope  and 
along  the  coafts  of  America,  in  the  fame  parallels.  The  char- 
afters  of  this  ffenus  are — Bill,  ftraight,  except  at  the  end,  which 
is  hooked.— Nojlrils,  cylindric  and  tubular. — Legs,  naked  above 
the  knees. — No  back  toe,  but  a  fharp  fpur  pointing  downwards 
inftead. 

cZk.  10.  mekgus. 
The  Mcrganfer  is  the  fpecies  that  forms  this  genus  ;  it  is 
found  in  the  north  of  Europe  and  north  of  America. — Its  bill 
is  flcnder,  a  little  depreffed,  furnifhed  at  the  end  with  a  crooked 
nail ;  edges  of  each  mandible  very  fharply  ferrated. — Nojlrils^ 
near  the  middle  of  the  mandible  fmall  and  fubovated, — Tongue, 
{lender. — Test,  the  exterior  toe  longer  than  the  middle.  The 
largeft  birds  of  this  fpecies  are  between  a  duck  and  goofe,  the 
fmaller  about  the  fize  of  the  duck.  There  are  in  the  whole 
about   fevcn   fpecies  known, 

^  GEN.     1  1.       ANAS. 

This  genus  includes  the  whole  of  the  duck  tribe,  under  the 
name  of  Swan,  Goofe,  Duck,  Widgeon,  Teal,  &c.  of  which 
near  feventy  fpecies  are  known  in  America  ;  of  the  fpecies  of 
the  fwan  only  one,  of  the  goofe  ten,  the  reft  ducks,  &c.  The 
diflinguifhing  charafters  of  this  genus  are — Bill,  ftrong,  broad, 
flat  or  depreffed,  and  commonly  furnifhed  at  the  end  with  a 
nail,  edges  marked  with  fharp  \zm\\\ic.---NoJlrils,  fmall,  oval.-— 
Tongue,  broad,  edges  near  the  bafe  fringed.— /"«/,  middle  toe 
the  largeft. 

GEK.     12.        PELICANUS. 

The  birds  in  this  genus  which  may  be  faid  to  belong  to 
America,  or  found  in  its  feas,  are  the  Pelican,  of  which  there  are 
two  fpecies  and  four  varieties  belonging  to  that  continent  ;  the 
Boobies,  fix  fpecies  ;  the  Frigat  or  Mjn  of  War  bird  j  and, 
accoiding  to  the  opinion  of  Buffon,  the  Garnet,  The  char- 
afters  of  the  pelican  ?ire—BiU,  long  and  ftraight,  the  end  hook- 
ed or  (lo^hig.— Nojirils,  either  entirely  wanting,  or  fmall  and 
placed  in  a  furrow  which  runs  along   the    fides   of    the    bill.-'- 


OF  AMERICAN  BIRDS,  401 

Face,  naked.— Gw/Ze^,  naked,  and  capable   of  great  diftenfion.— 
Toes^  all  four  webbed. 

GEN.     13.    PHAETON. 

This  genus  is  formed  of  the  tropic  birds  ;  a  clafs  of  the  winged 
tribe,  whofe  favourite  haunts  are  the  fequeftered  iflands  of  India 
and  America.  There  are  three  fpecies  known.— The  bill  is 
compreffed  flightly  floping  down,  point  fliarp,  under  mandible 
angular. — Nojtrils,  pervious.— To«,  all  four  webbed.— T<227,  cune- 
iform, two  middle  feathers  tapering  and  extending  to  a  vafl 
length  beyond  the  others. 

GEN.     14.       PLOTUS. 

Charafters — Bill,  long,  fhraight,  Iharp-pointed.— A'^ec/^,  of  a 
great  length. — Face  and  gullet,  covered  with  feathers.— Toa,  all 
four  webbed.  The  darter  or  anhinga  is  the  only  bird  in  this 
genus.  We  believe  there  are  three  fpecies,  betides  varieties,  in 
the  fouthern  part  of  the  new  continent. 

GEN.    15. 

The  penguin  may  be  confidered  as  the  link  between  birds  and 
fifhes. — Its  bill  is  ftrong  and  ftraight,  bending  only  a  little  to- 
wards the  point.  Tongue,  covered  with  ftrong,  fharp  fpines, 
pointing  backwards. —  Wings,  very  fmall,  pendulous,  ufelels  for 
flight,  covered  with  mere  flat  (hafts. — Body,  covered  with  thick, 
ihort  feathers,  with  broad  fhafts  placed  as  compaftly  as  fcales.— 
Legs,  fhort  and  thick,  placed  entirely  behind.— Toa, four  ftanding 
forward,  the  interior  loofe,  the  reft  webbed.— Jai/,  confifting 
of  only  broad  fliafts.  There  are  two  fpecies  found  on  the  coafts 
of  South-America.* 

•  We  noticed  at  the  beginning  of  this  account  of  American  birds,  th; 
the  divifiion  and  orders  we  had  followed  Mr.  Pennant — the  feveral  genera  ai 
claffcd  by  Linnaeus,  except  where  otherwife  mentioned. 


3  i^' 


(     4<5i     ) 


REPTILES 


O  F 


AMERICA. 


-^••<-<  -«■■«..<  4-  *>^»<f«  4^  >••»••»••>•>■■—• 


I 


MPERFECT  as  the  lift  of  American  quadrupeds  and  bitds 
jijuft  be  confefTed  to  be,  thofe  of  the  reptiles  muft  be  much 
more  fo ;  few  have  been  the  charafters  who,  with  leilure  and 
abilities,  have  poffeffed  the  inclination  for  thefe  refearches, 
and  thofe  who  have  attempted  any  thing  of  this  kind, 
have  contented  themfelves  with  very  partial  advances,  or  have 
found  fuch  difficulties  as  have  prevented  any  great  progrefs  ; 
they  have,  however,  done  fufficient,  we  truft,  to  ftimulate  others 
to  a  farther  purfuit,  and  we  may  reafonably  hope  that  a  few  years 
■will  open  to  us  a  more  particular  acquaintance  with  the  woods, 
the  marfhes,  the  mountains,  and  waters  of  the  new  continent. 
The  following  lifts  in  a  more  particular  manner  refer  to  North- 
America,  though  perhaps  the  greater  part  are  found  all  over  the 
continent. 


DIV.  I.  PEDATED  REPTILES. 


TORTOISE. 

Teftudo,   Mydas, 
. imbricata, 


Green  Tortoife,  . 

IlavvkbiU  do.  . 

Loggerhead  do. 

Trunk  do.  , 

Soft- {helled  do. 

Serrated  do.  , 

Chequered  do,  , 

Mud  do. 

Great  Land  do.  called  in  the  United  States,  Gopher. 


marina,   Raii, 

Catesby, 


Carolina, 


OF  AMERICAN  REPTILES.  «c3 


Toad,                  .  •  Rana,  buTo,  feveral  fpecieSo 

Bull-frog,             »  .  • ■ —  ocellata, 

Water.frog,  .               . Catesby. 

Green-tree-frog,  ,  — .— — .  arborea, 

Land- frog,  .             . C&teshy^ 

Cinerous,  ,                ,  ■    '         ■ 

3ell-frog  .                 .  ■ 

Small  green- frog,  ,  -— — — • 


LIZARD. 


Alligator,*  «  .         Lacerta,  crocodylus, 

Green-li£ard,+  .  ^         '■• 


*  This  formidable  animal  has  a  vaft  mouth,  furnifhed  with  (harp  teeth  ;  from 
the  back  to  the  end  of  the  tail  ferrated  ;  Ikin  tough  and  brown,  and  covered 
on  the  fides  with  tubercles.  Grows  to  the  length  of  from  eighteen  to  twenty- 
three  feet. 

This  dreadful  fpecies  is  found  in  the  warmer  parts  of  North-America,  and 
moft  numerous  as  we  approach  the  fouth,  and  the  more  fierce  and  ravenous  ; 
yet  in  Carolina  it  never  devours  the  human  fpecies,  but  on  the  contrary,  (huns 
mankind,  yet  will  kill  dogs  as  they  fwim  in  the  rivers,  and  hogs  which  feed  in 
the  fwamps.  It  is  often  feen  floating  like  a  log  of  wood  on  the  furface  of  the 
water,  and  is  miftaken  for  fuch  by  dogs,  and  other  animals,  which  it  feizes  and 
draws  under  water  to  devour  at  its  leifure.  Like  the  wolf  when  prefl"ed  by 
long  hunger,  it  will  fwallow  mud,  and  even  ftones,  and  pieces  of  wood.  They 
often  get  into  the  wears  in  purfuit  of  fifli,  and  do  much  mifchief  by  breaking 
them  to  pieces. 

They  are  torpid  during  the  winter  in  Carolina,  and  retire  into  their  dens, 
which  they  form  by  burrowing  far  under  ground  ;  it  makes  the  entrance  under 
water,  and  works  upwards.  In  fpring  it  quits  its  retreat,  and  reforts  to  the 
rivers,  which  it  fwims  up  and  down,  and  chiefly  feeks  its  prey  near  the  mouth, 
where  the  water  is  brackifli. 

It  roars  and  makes  a  dreadful  noife  at  its  firft  leaving  its  den,  and  againft  bad 
weather.  It  lays  a  vaft  number  of  eggs  in  the  fand,  near  the  banks  of  lakes  and 
livers,  and  leaves  them  to  be  hatched  by  the  fun  :  multitudes  are  def.royed  as 
foon  as  hatched,  cither  by  their  own  fpecies,  or  by  fifh  of  prey.  In  South- 
America  the  carrion  vulture  is  the  inftrument  of  Providence  to  deftroy  multi- 
tudes, by  that  means  preventing  the  country  from  being  rendered  uninhabitable. 
Bartram,  in  his  account  of  his  travels,  has  given  a  very  particular  account  of 
thefe  creatures. 

+  This  little  creature  is  totally  green  ;  very  (lender ;  tail  near  double  the  length 
of  the  body,  and  its  whole  length  about  five  inches. 

It  inhabits  Carolina,  is  domeftic,  familiar,  and  harmlefs  ;  fports  on  tables 
and  windows,  and  amufes  bj  its  agility  in  catching  flies  ;  gazes  at  mankind 
without  concern ;  fwells  its  throat  into  a  protuberance,'  which  it  difcharges  at 

!\'^   2 


404  GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

Five-lined  do.         -  -  Lacerta, 

Guada  do.  -  -  • iguana, 

Blue  tail  do,  -  -  . faciata, 

Spotted  do.  -  - punftata, 

Annulated  do.  -  -  . . 

Slender  do.  - 

Scorpion  do,         - 

Lion  do.  -  -  • fex  lineata. 


SIREN. 

Mud  Iguana,  or  Siren, 

DIV.  II.    WITHOUT  FEET. 

CROTALUS. 

Great  Raltlefnake,*  -  Crotalus,  horridus, 

Small  do.  -  -  . duriffus, 

Miliary  do.  -  -  • miliarus. 


will.  Cold  afFefls  the  colours  ;  in  that  uncertain  climate,  when  there  is  a  quick, 
tranfition,  in  the  fame  day,  from  hot  to  cold;  it  changes  iuftantiy  from  the  moft 
brilliant  green  to  a  dull  brown.  It  is  fomeiimes  tempted  by  a  gleam  of  fun 
to  quit  its  retreat,  but  by  the  fudden  change  of  weather,  is  fo  enfeebled,  as 
not  to  be  able  to  return  to  its  hole,  and  will  die  with  cold. 

*  This  reptile  has  a  brown  broad  head  ;  yello-SArifli  brown  back,  marked 
v'ith  broad  tranfverfe  dentated  bars  of  black ;  fcalcs  rough  ;  belly  cinereous  ; 
the  jaws  furnifned  with  fmall  flinrp  teeth ;  four  fangs  in  the  upper  jaw,  in- 
curvated,  large,  and  pointed,  the  inftruments  of  death  ;  at  the  bafe  of  each  a 
round  orifice,  opening  into  a  hollow,  that  near  the  end  of  the  tooth  appears 
agam  in  form  of  a  fmall  channel  ;  thefe  teeth  may  be  erefted  or  compreffed  ; 
when  in  the  aftion  of  biting,  they  force  out  of  a  gland  near  their  roots  the 
fatal  jr.ice  ;  this  is  received  into  the  round  orifice  of  the  teeth,  conveyed 
through  the  tube  into  the  channel,  and  thence  with  uncring  dire£lion  into 
the  wouwd.  • 

The  tail  is  furnilhed  with  a  rattle,  confifting  of  joints  loofely  eonnefled  ;  the 
number  uncertain,  depending,  as  is  pretended,  on  the  age  of  the  animal,  it 
receiving  with  every  year  a  nev/  joint.     Authors  mention  forty  and   feventy, 

Rattlefnakes  grow  to  the  length  of  eight  feet,  aud,  according  to  a  newfpa- 
prr  account,  to  fourteen. 

They  fwarm  in  the  lefs  inhabited  parts  of  North- America  ;  now  almoft 
extirpated  in  the  populous  ;  none  found  farther  north  than  the  mountains  near 
lake  Champlain  ;  but  in  the  fouth  infeft  South- America,  even  as  far  as  Brafil. 
Love  woods  and  lofty  hills,  efpecially  where  the  ftrata  are  rocky  or  chalky  : 
the   pafs  near   Niagara   abounds  with   them.     Being  flow  of  motion,  they  frc- 


OF  AMERICAN  RJ^PTILES,  405 


COLUBER. 


Familiar-fnake,  -  Coluber,  aeftivus, 

Porracious  do.  -         -  mifterizans, 

Croffed  do.  -             -  iimus, 

Water-viper,  *  -           -  punftatus. 


quent  the  fides  of  rills,  to  make  prey  of  frogs,  or  of  fuch  animals  that  refort 
there  to  quench  their  third  ;  are  generally  found  during  fummcr  in  pairs  ;  in 
winter,  colleft  in  multitudes,  and  retire  beneath  the  ground,  beyond  the  reach 
of  froft  :  tempted  by  the  warmth  of  a  fpring  day,  they  are  often  obferved  to 
creep  out  weak  and  languid  :  a  perfon  has  feen  a  piece  of  ground  covered  with 
them,  and  killed  with  a  rod  between  fixty  aftd  feventy,  till  overpowered  with 
the  ftench,  he  was  obliged  to  retire. 

They  couple  in  Auguft,  and  then  are  moft  dangerous  ;  are  viviparous,  and 
bring  forth  in  June,  about  twelve  young  ones  :  between  that  and  September 
they  acquire  the  length  of  a  foot. 

Providence  has  given  mankind  a  fecurity  againft  the  bite  of  thefe  dreadful 
reptiles,  for  it  does  not  often  fail  warning  the  paffenger  of  its  vicinity,  by  the 
rattle  of  its  tail.  In  fine  weather  that  monition  is  always  given,  in  wet  wea- 
ther feldom,  which  gives  the  Indians  a  dread  of  travelling  amidft  the  woods 
in  rainy  feafons. 

It  moves  along  with  the  head  on  the  ground  ;  but  if  alarmed,  it  flings  its 
body  into  a  circle,  coiling  itfelf  with  the  head  in  the  centre  ereft,  and  with 
the  eyes  flaming  in  a  moft  terrific  manner.  Happily  it  may  be  eafily  avoided  : 
it  is  flow  in  purfuit,  and  has  not  the  power  of  fpringing  at  its  aflailant,  like 
many  of  the  innocent  tribe. 

It  is  difficult  to  fpeak  of  its  fafcinating  powers  ;  authors  of  credit  defcribe 
the  effefts.  Birds  have  been  feen  to  drop  into  its  mouth,  fquirrels  defcend 
from  their  trees,  and  leverets  run  into  its  jaws.  Terror  and  amazement  feem 
to  lay  hold  on  thefe  little  animals  ;  they  make  violent  efforts  to  get  away,  ftill 
keeping  their  eyes  fixed  on  thofe  of  the  fnake  ;  at  length,  wearied  with  their 
movements,  and  frightened  out  of  all  capacity  of  knowing  the  courfe  they 
ought  to  take,  become  at  length  the  prey  of  the  cxpefting  devourer,  probably 
in  their  lafh  convulfive   motion. 

Rattlefnakes  are  apt  to  frequent  houfes  ;  every  domeftic  animal  on  their 
approach,  as  if  by  inftinft,  takes  alarm  ;  dogs  bridle,  and  the  poultry  creft 
their  feathers  ;  hogs  only  attack  them,  feeding  on  them  with  impunity.  The 
Indians   will   alfo  eat  their  flefli. 

The  bite  is  o^Hhe  moft  venomous  kind  ;  if  the  wound  is  on  a  vein  or  artery, 
death  enfues  as  rapid  as  thought  ,  if  in  a  flefliy  part  there  are  hopes  of  reme- 
dy ;  the  moft  efficacious,  if  done  in  time,  is  either  the  burning,  or  cutting  out 
the  part  afl"e£led.  The  fymptoms  are,  naujia,  convuHions,  fpitting  of  blood 
and  bloody  ftools  ;  lofs  of  the  ufe  of  limbs  ;  fwellings,  and  difcoloured  fitin  : 
fever,  deHr^a  ;  and  if  the  cure  takes  any  length  of  time,  difturbed  reft,  and 
dreams  of  the  moft  horrible  kinds. 

*  This  fnake  has  a  large  head,  fmall  neck  ;  fangs  in  the  upper  jaw  ;  colour 
of  the  head  and  back  dufl<.y  ;  belly  fafciatcd  with  black  and  yellow.  At  the 
head  of  the  tail  a  fmall  horny  fubftance. 


4o5 


GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 


Black-fnake, 
Coach  Whip  do. 
Corn-fnake,  * 

Black-viper,  * 

Brown  do.  . 

Copper-bellied  fnakc, 
Striated  do.         t 
Dotted  do.  . 

White-bodied,  brown-eyed  do. 
Black-fnake,  with  linear  rings, 
Hooped  do. 

Dufky  do,  .  . 

Vitiated  do, 

Penlacola  do.  .  . 

Minute  do.  .  • 

Golden-eyed  do,  . 

Moccaftn  do.  •  • 

Grey  fpotted  do.  of  Carolina, 
Little  brown  bead  do.         • 
Joint  do,  .  . 

Garter  do.  »  , 


Coluber,  conftriftor 

— flagellum 

■  fulvius 

.-——*—  preftcr 

. luridus 

■■   erythrogaflcr 

-  ftriatulus 
»     punftatis 

'  '  atropos 

.  leberis 

.  doliatus 

'  "  (ipedoa 

firtalis 


annulatus 


ANGUIS, 


Glaffy  fnake,  .  .  Anguis  vcntralij 

Chicken  do.  .  •  maculata 

Striped  do.  .  .  eryx 

Blind  do.  .  •  fragilis 

Brownifh  fpotted  do.  .  reticulata 

Yellowifh  white  do,  .  ■  lumbricalis 

Hi  fling  do.  .  •  - 

Ring  do.  -  ,  

Pale-coloured  do.  with  brown  belts laticauda. 


Inhabits  Carolina :  fwims  well,  and  is  very  dexterous  in  catching  fifli.  Dur-» 
ing  fummer,  numbers  of  them  are  feen  hanging  on  the  boughs  of  trees  over  the 
rivers,  watching  the  approach  of  fifh  or  fowl,  and  frequently  drop  into  the 
boats  pafTing  beneath.  They  plunge  on  their  prey,  and-  purfue  it  with  great 
fwiftnefs  ;  and  as  foon  as  they  catch  it,  fwini  alhore  to  devour  it :  are  called  the 
Water  Raf.lefnake,  and  are  fuppofed  to  be  as  fatal  in  their  bite.  The  little  horn 
at  the  tail  gives  it  a  dreadful  name,  as  if  armed  with  death  at  both  extremities. ' 
The  fuperftitious  believe,  that  by  a  jerk  of  that  part  it  can  mortally  woiiiid  any 
animal,  and  even  caufe  a  tree  to  wither  by  translixing  the  bark. 


OF  AMERICAN  REPTILES,  407 


BOA. 


Hog-nofe  fnake, 
Greenifti  variegated  do. 
Large  fpotted  do. 
Murine  do. 
Afli- coloured  do. 
Yellow  fpotted  do. 
Dufky  white  do. 
Pale-coloured  do. 


Boa  conftortrix, 

—  canina, 

—  conftriflor,* 

—  murina, 
— :  fcytale, 

—  cenchria, 

—  enydris, 

—  hortulana. 


*  This  is  an  immenfe  animal ;  it  often  exceeds  thirty-fix  feet  In  length  ;  the 
body  is  very  thick,  of  a  duflcy  white  colour,  and  its  back  is  interfperfed  with 
twenty-four  large  pale  irregular  fpots ;  the  tail  is  of  a  darker  colour,  and  the 
fides  are  beautifully  variegated  with  pale  fpots :  befides,  the  whole  body  is  inter- 
fperfed with  fmall  brown  fpots.  The  head  is  covered  with  fmall  fcales,  and  has 
no  broad  laminae  betwixt  the  eyes,  but  has  a  black  belt  behind  the  eyes.  It 
wants  the  large  dog-fangs,  and  of  courfe  its  bite  is  not  poifonous.  The  tongue 
is  flefhy  and  forked.  Above  the  eyes,  on  each  fide  the  head  rifies  high.  The 
fcales  of  this  ferpentare  all  very  fmall,  roundifh  and  fmooth.  The  tail  does  not 
exceed  one-eighth  of  the  whole  length  of  the  animal.  The  Indians,  whp  adore 
this  monftrous  animal,  ufe  the  fkin  for  clothes,  on  account  of  its  fmoothnefs  and 
beauty.  There  are  feveral  of  thefe  fkins  of  the  above  dimenfions  preferved  and 
to  be  feen  in  the  different  mufeums  of  Europe,  particularly  in  the  library  and 
botanic  garden  of  Upfal  in  Sweden,  which  has  of  late  been  greatly  enriched  by 
Count  Grillinborg.  The  flelh  of  this  ferpent  is  eat  by  the  Indians  and  the 
negroes.  Pifo,  Margraave  and  Kempfer,  give  the  following  account  of  its  me- 
thod of  living  and  catching  its  prey.  It  frequents  caves  and  thick  forefts,  where 
it  conceals  itfelf,  and  fuddenly  darts  out  upon  ftrangers,  wild  beafts  &c.  When 
it  choofes  a  tree  for  its  watching-place,  it  fupports  itfelf  by  twilling  its  tail  round 
the  trunk  or  a  branch,  and  darts  down  upon  fheep,  goats,  tigers,  or  any  animal 
that  comes  within  its  reach.  When  it  lays  hold  of  animals,  efpecially  any  of 
the  larger  kinds,  it  twifts  itfelf  feveral  times  round  their  body,  and  by  the  vaft 
force  of  its  circular  mufcles  bruifes  and  breaks  all  their  bones  ;  after  the  bones 
are  broke,  it  licks  the  fkin  of  the  animal  all  over,  befmearing  it  with  a  glutinous 
kind  of  faliva.  This  operation  is  intended  to  facilitate  deglutition,  and  is  a  pre- 
paration for  fwallowing  the  whole  animal.  If  it  be  a  flag,  or  any  horned  animal, 
it  begins  to  fwallow  the  feet  firft,  and  gradually  fucks  in  the  body,  and  laft  of 
all  the  head  ;  when  the  horns  happen  to  be  large,  this  ferpent  has  been  obferved 
to  go  about  for  a  long  time  with  the  horns  of  a  flag  flicking  out  from  its  mouth  : 
as  the  animal  digefts.  the  horns  putrefy  and  fall  off.  After  this  ferpent  has 
fwallowed  a  flag  or  a  tiger,  it  is  unable  for  fome  days  to  move  ;  the  hunters,  who 
are  well  acquainted  with  this  circumflance,  always  take  this  opportunity  of 
deftroying  it.  When  irritated  it  makes  a  loud  hifTing  noife.  It  is  faid  to  cover 
itfelf  over  with  leaves  in  fuch  places  as  flags  or  other  animals  frequent,  in  order 
to  conceal  itfelf  from  their  fight,  and  that  it  may  the  more  eafily  lay  hold  of 
tfaetn. 


4o8  GENERAL   DESCRIPTION,   &c. 


TWO-HEADED    SNAKE. 

This  has  in  general  been  confidered  as  a  monftrous  produc- 
tion ;  but  Mr.  Morfe  fays,  he  is  difpofed  to  believe  that  it  is  a 
diflinft  fpecies  ;  he  obferves  that  he  has  feen  one,  and  received 
accounts  of  three  others,  found  in  different  parts  of  the  United 
States  :  one  of  thefe  was  about  eight  inches  long,  and  both  heads, 
as  to  every  outward  appearance,  were  equally  perfeft,  and 
branching  out  from  the  neck  at  an  acute  angle* 


TREATIES 


BETWEEN 


HIS  MOST  CHRISTIAN  MAJESTY 


AND     THE 


THIRTEEN  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA^ 


TREATY  OF  AMITY  AND  COMMERCE. 

LOUIS,  by  the  Grace    of  God,   King  of  France   and 
Navarre,   to  all  who  (hall  fee  thefe  prefents,  greeting  : 

X  HE  Congrefs  of  the  Thirteen  United  States  of  North- 
America  having,  by  their  5|l,eaipotentiaries  rcfiding  at  Paris, 
notified  their  deli  re  to  eftablifh  with  us  and  our  States  a  good 
underftanding  and  perfeft  correfpondence,  and  having  for 
that  purpofe  propoCed  to  conclude  with  us  a  Treaty  of  Amity 
and  Commeru  :  We  having  thought  it  our  duty  to  give  to  the 
faid  States  a  fenfible  proof  of  our  afFeftion,  determining  us 
to  accept  of  their  propoials  :  for  thefe  caufes,  and  other  good 
confiderations  us  thereunto  moving,  we,  repofing  entire  cor\- 
fidence  in  the  abilities  and  experience,  zeal  and  fidelity  for 
our  fervice,  of  our  dear  and  beloved  Conrad  Alexander 
Gerard,  royal  fyndic  of  the  city  of  Strafburg,  and  fecretary 
of  our  council  of  ftate,  have  nominated,  appointed,  and  com- 
miilioned,  and  by  thefe  prefents,  figned  with  our  hand,  do 
nominate,  appoint  and  commiffiojj,  him  our  plenipotentiary, 
giving  him  power  and  fpecial  command  for  us  and  in  our 
name,  to  agree  upon,  conclude  and  fign  with  the  plenipoten- 
tiaries of  the  United  States,  equally  furnifhed  in  due  form 
with  full  powers,  fuch  Treaty,  Convention,  and  Articles  of 
Commerce  and  Navigation,  as  he  fhdll  think  proper  ;  willing 

3  G 


410  TREATY  OF 

. — ^ 

that  Tie  a£t  with  the  fame  authority  as  wc  might  or  could  afi, 
if  we  were  peffonally  prefent,  and  even  as  though  he  had 
more  fpecial  command  than  what  is  herein  contained  ;  pro- 
mifing  in  good  faith,  and  on  the  word  of  a  king,  to  agree  to, 
confirm,  and  6fl;abliih  for  ever,  and  to  accomplifli  and  ej^e- 
cute  punftu'ally,  all  that  our  faid  dear  and  beloved  Conrad 
Alexander  Gerard  fhall  ftipulate  and  fign,  by  virtue  of  the 
prefent  power,  witliout  contravening  it  in  any  manner,  or  fuf- 
fering  it  to  be  contravened  for  any  caufe,  or  under  any  pre- 
text whatfoever  ;  and  alfo  to  latify  the  fame  in  due  form,  and 
caufe  our  ratification  to  be  deliviired  and  exchanged  in  thd 
time  that  fliali  be  agreed  on.  For  fuch  is  our  pleafure.  In 
teflimony  whereof  we  have  hereunto  fet  our  feai.  Done  at 
Verfailles  this  thirtieth  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  feventy-eight,  and  the 
fourth  year  of  our  reig.n. 

(Signed) 
(L.  S.)  LOUIS. 

(Underneath)  By  the  King. 

GRAVIER  DE  VERGENNES. 

TREATY. 

The  MoPc  Chrilllan  King,  and  the  Thirteen  United  States 
of  North-America,  to  wit,  New-Hampfhire,  Maffachufett's- 
bay,  Rhode-lfland,  Conne6licut„|J^ew-York,  Nev/-Jcrfev,  Penn- 
fylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North-Carolina,  South- 
Carolina  and  Georgia,  willing  to  fix  in  an  equitable  and  per- 
manent manner,  the  rules  v;hich  ought  to  be  followed  relative 
to  the  correFpondence  and  commerce  whica  the  two  parties 
defire  to  efhabliih  between  their  refpeflive  countries,  flutes 
and  fubjefts  ;  his  Mod  Chriftian  Majelly  and  the  faid  United 
States  have  judged,  that  the  faid  end  could  not  be  better  ob- 
t^ned  than  by  taking  for  the  bafis  of  their  agreement  the  moil 
perfect,  equality  and  reciprocity,  and  by  carefully  avoiding  all 
thofe  burtlienloine  preferences  which  are  ufually  fources  of  de- 
bate, embarraffment  and  difcontent  ;  by  leaving  alfo  each  party 
at  liberty  to  make  refpefting  navigation  and  commerce,  thofe 
interior  regulations  which  it  fhall  find  moll  convenient  to  itfelf, 
and  by  founding  the  advantage  of  commerce  folely  upon  reci- 
procal utility,  and  the  juft  rules  of  free  intercourfe  ;  referving 
vithal  to  each  party  the  liberty  of  admntti^ng,  at  its  pleafure, 
other  nations  to  a  participation  of  the  lame  advantages.  It  is  in 
the  fpirit   of  this   intention,  and   to  fulfil  thefe  views,  that  his 


AM  I  TV  AND    COMMERCE.  4*^ 

Taid  Majefty,  having  named  and  appointed  fpr  his  plcnipoten. 
tiaiy  Conrad  Alexander  -Gerard,  royal  fyndic  of  the  city  of 
Strafburg,  fecretary  of  his  majefly's  council  of  (late;  and 
the  United  States,  on  their  part,  having  fully  empowered  Ben- 
jamin Franklin,  deputy  from  the  State  of  Pennfylvania  to  the 
General  Congrefs,  and  prefident  to  the  convention  of  the  State ; 
Silas  Deane,  late  deputy  from  the  State  of  Conne£lIcut  to  ,thfi 
faid  Congrefs ;  and  Arthur  Lee,  confellor  at  law  ;  the  fald  re- 
fpeclive  plenipotentiaries,  after  exchanging  their  powers,  and 
after  mature  deliberation,  have  concluded  and  agreed  upon  thp 
following  articles  : 

Article  I.  There  fhall  be  a  firm,  inviolable  and  univerfal 
peace,  and  a  true  and  Iincere  friendfhip,  between  the  Moft 
Chriftian  King,  his  heirs  and  fucceffors,  and  the  Uivited  States 
of  America,  and  the  fubje£ls  of  the  Moft  Chriftian  King  and 
of  the  faid  States,  and  between  the  countries,  iflands,  cities  and 
towns,  fituate  under  the  jurifdiftion  of  the  Moft  Chriftian  King 
and  of  the  faid  United  States,  and  the  people  and  inhabitants  of 
every  degree,  without  exception  of  perfons  or  places,  and  the 
terms  herein  after  mentioned,  fhall  be  perpetual  between  ths 
Moft  Chriftian  King,  his  heirs  and  fucceffors,  and  the  faid 
United  States. 

Art.  II.  The  Moft  Chriftian  King  and  the  United  States 
engage  mutually  not  to  grant  any  particular  favour  to  other 
nations,  in  refpeft  of  commerce  and  navigation,  which  fliall 
not  immediately  become  common  to  the  other  party,  who  fliall 
enjoy  the  fame  favour  freely,  if  the  concefTion  was  freely  made, 
or  on  allowing  the  fame  compenfation,  if  the  conceftion  was 
conditional. 

Art.  III.  The  fubjeds  of  the  Moft  Chriftian  King  (hall  pay 
in  the  ports,  havens,  roads,  countries,  iflands,  cities  or  towns 
of  the  United  States,  or  any  of  them,  no  other  or  greater 
duties  or  impofts,  of  what  nature  foever  they  may  be,  or  by 
what  name  foever  called,  than  thofe  which  the  nations  moft 
favoured  are  or  fiiall  be  obliged  to  pay  ;  and  they  fhall  enjoy  all 
the  rights,  liberties,  privileges,  immunities  and  exemptions  in 
trade,  navigation  and  commerce,  whether  in  pafiing  from  one 
port  in  the  faid  States  to  another,  Or  in  going  to  and  from  the 
fame,  from  and  to  any  part  of  the  world,  which  the  faid  nr.tion.3 
do  or  fliall  enjoy. 

Art.  IV.  The  fubjefts,  people  and  inhabitants  of  the  faid 
/L^nited    States,   and   each   of  them,  fhall   not   pay  in  the  ports, 

3  G    . 


41S  T  RE  A  TY  0  F 

havens,  ro3t3s,  iflands,  cities  and  places  und;r  the  domination 
of  his  Moft  Chriftian  Majefly  in  Europe,  any  other  or  greater 
duties  or  impofts,  of  what  nature  foever  they  may  be,  or  by 
what  name  foever  called,  than  thofe  which  the  moft  favoured 
nations  are  or  fhall  be  obliged  to  pay ;  and  they  fhall  enjoy  all 
the  rights,  liberties,  privileges,  immunities  and  exemptions  in 
trade,  navigation  and  commerce,  whether  in  pafling  from  one 
port  in  the  faid  dominions  in  Europe  to  another,  or  in  going  to 
and  from  the  fame,  from  and  to  any  part  of  the  world,  which 
the  faid  nations  do  or  Ihall  enjoy. 

Art.  V.  in  the  above  exemption  is  particularly  comprifed  the 
impofition  of  one  hundred  fous  per  ton,  eftablifhed  in  France 
on  foreign  fhips,  unlefs  when  the  fhips  of  the  United  States 
fhall  load  with  the  merchandife  of  France  for  another  port  of 
the  faid  dominions  ;  in  which  cafe  the  fhips  fhall  pay  the  duty 
above  mentioned,  fo  long  as  other  nations  the  moft  favoured 
fhall  be  'obliged  to  pay  it  ;  but  it  is  underftood,  that  the  faid 
United  States,  or  any  of  them,  are  at  liberty,  when  they 
fhall  judge  it  proper,  to  eftabhfti  a  duty  eq[uivalent  in  the  fame 
cafe. 

Art.  VI.  The  iVIoft  Chriftian  King  fhall  endeavour,  by  all 
the  means  in  his  power,  to  proteft  and  defend  all  vcffeU  and 
the  effefls  belonging  to  the  fubje3;s,  people  or  inhabitants,  of 
the  faid  United  States,  or  any  of  them,  being  in  his  ports, 
havens  or  roads,  or  on  the  feas  near  his  countries,  iflsnds, 
cities  or  towns  ;  and  to  recover'Snd  reftore  to  the  right  owners, 
their  agents  or  attornies,  all  fuch  veffels  and  efFefts  which  fliall 
be  taken  within  his  jurifdi£lion  ;  and  the  fhips  of  war  of  his 
Moft  Chriftian  Majefty,  or  any  convoy  failing  under  his  autho- 
rity, fhall,  upon  all  occafions,  take  under  their  proteftion  all 
veifels  belonging  to  the  fubjefts,  people  or  inhabitants,  of  the 
faid  United  States,  or  any  of  them,  and  holding  the  fame 
courfe,  or  going  the  fame  way,  and  fhall  defend  fuch  veffels 
as  long  as  they  hold  the  fame  courfe,  or  go  the  fame  way^ 
againft  all  attacks,  force  or  violence,  in  the  fame  manner  as 
they  ought  to  proteft  and  defend  the  veffels  belonging  to  the 
lubjc£ls  of  the  Moft  Chriftian  King. 

Art.  VII.  In  like  manner  the  faid  United  States,  and  their 
fliips  of  war  failing  under  their  authority,  fliall  proteft  and  de- 
fend, conformably  to  the  tenor  of  the  preceding  article,  all  the 
veffels  and  effefts  belonging  to  the  fubjefts  of  the  Moft 
Chriftian  King,  and  ufe  all  their  endeavonrs  to  recover, 
and  caufe  to  be  reftored.  the  faid   veffels    and   efftfts  that   {halj 


AMITY   AND    COMMERCE.  413 

have  been  taken  within  the  jurifdiQion  of  the  faid  United  States, 
or  any  of  them. 

Art.  VIII.  The  Moft  Chriflian  King  will  employ  his  good 
offices  and  interpofitions  with  the  King  or  Emperor  of  Morocco 
or  Fez  ;  the  regencies  of  Algiers,  Tunis  and  Tripoly,  or  with 
any  of  them ;  and  alfo  with  every  other  prince,  flate  or 
power,  of  the  coaft  of  Barbary  in  Africa,  and  the  fabjefts  of 
the  faid  king,  emperor,  ilates  and  powers,  and  each  of  them,  in 
order  to  provide  as  fully  and  efEcacioufly  as  pofiible  for  the  be- 
nefit, conveniency  and  fafety  of  the  faid  United  States,  and 
each  of  them,  their  fubjefts,  people  and  inhabitants,  and  their 
veffels  and  effefts,  againft  all  violence,  infults,  attacks  or  de- 
predations, on  the  part  of  the  faid  princes  and  ftates  of  Bar- 
bary, or  their  fubjefls. 

Art.  IX.  The  fubjefts,  inhabitants,  merchants,  commanders 
of  fhips,  mafters  and  mariners  of  the  dates,  provinces  and  do- 
minions of  each  party  refpeftively,  fhall  abftain  and  forbear  to 
fifh  in  all  places  pofleffed,  or  which  fhall  be  poffefled  by  the 
other  party;  the  Moft  Chriftian  King's  fubjefts  fhall  not  fifh  in 
the  havens,  bays,  creeks,  roads,  coafts  or  places,  which  the  faid 
United  States  hold,  or  fhall  hereafter  hold  ;  and  in  like  manner 
the  fubjefts,  people  and  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  fliall 
not  fifh  in  the  havens,  bays,  creeks,  roads,  coafts  or  places, 
which  the  mofl  Chriftian  King  polTelTes,  or  fliall  hereafter  pof- 
fefs  ;  and  if  any  fhip  or  vefTel  fhall  be  found  fifning  contrary 
to  the  tenor  of  this  treaty,  the  faid  fhip  or  velTel,  with  its  lad- 
ing, (proof  being  made  thereof)  fhall  be  confifcated ;  it  is  how- 
ever underftood,  that  the  exclufion  ilipulated  in  the  prefent 
article  fhall  take  place  only  lo  long,  and  fo  far,  as  the  Moft 
Chriftian  King,  or  the  United  States,  fhall  not  in  this  refpeft 
have  granted  an  exemption  to  fome  other  nation. 

Art.  X.  The  United  States,  their  citizens  and  inhabitants, 
fhall  never  difturb  the  fubjefts  of  the  Moft  Chriftian  King  in 
the  enjoyment  and  exerciie  of  the  right  of  fifhing  on  the  banks 
of  Newfoundland,  nor  in  the  indefinite  and  exclufive  right 
which  belongs  to  them  on  that  part  of  the  coaft  of  tliat  ifland 
which  is  defignated  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  nor  in  the  right 
relative  to  all  and  each  of  the  ifles  which  belong  to  his  Moft. 
Chriftian  Majefty,  the  whole  conformable  to  the  true  fenfe  of 
the  treaties  of  Utrecht  and  Paris. 

Art.  XI.  The  fubje£ls  and  inhabitants  of  the  faid  United 
States,  or  ?.ny  of  them,  fliall  not  be  reputed  aubains  in  Fraace, 
and  confequently  fhall  be  exempted  fi  om  the  <J.ro''  d'ahbai'rf:,    or 


4t4  TREATY   OF 

other  fimilar  duty,  under  what  name  foever :  they  may  by  tef- 
tament,  donation,  or  otherwife,  difpofe  of  their  goods,  movea- 
ble and  immoveable,  in  favour  of  fuch  perfons  as  to  them  (hall 
feem  goon  ;  and  their  heirs,  fubjefts  of  the  United  States,  refid- 
jng  whether  in  France  or  elfewhere,  may  fucceed  them,  ab  intcf- 
tat,  without  being  obliged  to  obtain  letters  of  naturalization, 
and  without  having  the  effe£l  of  this  conceflion  contefled  or  im- 
peded, under  pretext  of  any  rights  or  prerogatives  of  provinces, 
cities  or  private  perfons  ;  and  the  faid  heirs,  whether  fuch  by 
particular  title,  or  ab  inttftat^  fhall  be  exempted  from  the  duty 
called  droit  de  detraSlion^  or  other  duty  of  the  fame  kind  ;  fav- 
ing  neverthelefs  the  local  rights  or  duties,  as  much  and  as  long 
as  fimilar  ones  are  not  eftabliflied  by  the  United  States,  or  any 
of  them.  The  fubjefts  of  the  Mod  Chriftian  King  fhall  enjoy, 
on  their  part,  in  all  the  dominions  of  the  faid  States,  an  entire 
and  perfcft  reciprocity,  relative  to  the  ftipulations  contained  in 
the  prefent  article  :  but  it  is  at  the  fame  time  agreed,  that  its 
contents  fliall  not  affeft  the  laws  made,  or  that  may  be  made 
hereafter  in  France,  againfl  emigrations,  which  fhall  remain  in 
all  their  force  and  vigour  ;  and  the  United  States,  on  their  part, 
or  any  of  them,  fhall  be  at  liberty  to  ena£l  fuch  laws,  relative 
to  that  matter,  as  to  them  fhall  feem  proper. 

Art.  XII.  The  merchant  fhips  of  either  of  the  parties,  which 
fliall  be  making  into  a  port  belonging  to  the  enemy  of  the  other 
ally,  and  concerning  whofe  voyage  and  the  fpecies  of  good§  on 
board  her  there  fliall  be  juft  grounds  of  fufpicion,  fhall  be  ob- 
liged to  exhibit,  as  well  upon  the  high  feas  as  in  the  ports  and 
havens,  not  only  her  paflports,  but  likewife  certificates,  ex- 
prefsly  fliewing  that  her  goods  are  not  of  the  number  of  thofc 
"which  have  been  prohibited  as  contraband. 

Art.  XIII.  If,  by  exhibiting  of  the  above  faid  certificates, 
the  other  party  difcover  there  arc  any  of  thofe  forts  of  goods 
•which  are  prohibited  and  declared  contraband,  and  configned 
for  a  port  under  the  obedience  of  his  enemy,  it  fhall  not  be  law- 
ful to  break  up  the  hatches  of  fuch  fhip,  or  to  open  any  chelj, 
coffers,  packs,  cafks,  or  any  other  velTci  found  therein,  or  to  re- 
move the  fmalleft  parcel  of  her  goods,  whether  fuch  fliip  be- 
longs to  the  iubjctts  of  France,  or  the  inhabitants  of  the  faid 
XJnited  States,  unlefs  the  lading  be  brought  on  fiioie,  in  the 
■prti&nze.  of  tlie  oflicers  of  the  court  of  admiralty,  and  an  in- 
ventory thereof  made  ;  but  there  fliall  be  no  allowance  to  fell, 
exchange,  or  alienate  the  fame  in  any'  manner,  until  that  after 
due  and  lawful  procefs  fliall  have  been  had  againft  fuch    prohi- 


AMITY  AND  COMMERCE,  415 

bitcd  goods,  and  the  court  of  admiralty  {hall,  by  a  fentence  pro- 
nounced, have  confifcated  the  fame,  faving  always  as  well  the 
ftiip  itfelf,  as  any  other  goods  found  therein,  which  by  this 
treaty  are  to  be  efleemed  free  ;  neither  may  they  be  detained  on 
pretence  of  their  being  as  it  were  infefted  by  the  prohibited 
goods,  much  lefs  fhall  they  be  confifcated  as  lawful  prize.  But 
if  not  the  whole  cargo,  but  only  part  thereof  fhall  confift  of 
prohibited  or  contraband  goods,  and  the  commander  of  the  fhip 
fhall  be  ready  and  willing  to  deliver  them  to  the  captor  who 
has  difcovered  them;  in  fuch  cafe,  the  captor  having  received 
thofe  goods,  fliall  forthwith  difcharge  the  (hip,  and  not  hinder 
her  by  any  means,  freely  to  profecute  the  voyage  on  which  flue 
was  bound.  But  in  cafe  the  contraband  merchandifes  cannot 
be  all  received  on  board  the  vedel  of  the  captor,  then  the  cap- 
tor may,  notwithftanding  the  offer  of  delivering  him  the  contra- 
band goods,  carry  the  velfel  into  the  neareft  port,  agreeable  to 
■what  is  above  direfted. 

Art.  XIV.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  agreed,  that  whatever 
fhall  be  found  to  be  laden  by  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  of  ei- 
ther party,  or  any  Ihip  belonging  to  the  enemies  of  the  other, 
or  to  their  fubjefts,  the  whole,  although  it  be  not  of  the  fort 
of  prohibited  goods,  may  be  confircated  in  the  fame  manner  as 
if  it  belonged  to  the  enemy,  except  fuch  goods  and  merchandife 
as  were  put  on  board  fuch  fhip  before  the  declaration  of  war, 
or  even  after  fuch  declaration,  if  fo  be  it  were  done  without 
knowledge  of  fuch  declaration  ;  fo  that  the  goods  of  the  fub- 
je£ts  and  people  of  either  party,  whether  they  be  of  the  nature 
of  fuch  as  are  prohibited  or  otherwife,  which,  as  is  aforefaid, 
were  put  on  board  any  fhip  belonging  to  an  enemy  before  the 
war,  or  after  the  declaration  of  the  fame,  without  the  know- 
ledge of  it,  fhall  no  ways  be  liable  to  confifcation,  but  {hall 
well  and  truly  be  reflored  without  delay  to  the  proprietors  de- 
manding the  fame  ;  but  fo  as  that  if  the  faid  merchandifes  be 
contraband,  it  fliall  not  be  any  ways  lawful  to  carry  them  after- 
wards to  any  port  belonging  to  the  enemy.  The  two  contraft- 
ing  parties  agree,  that  the  term  of  two  months  being  pafTed  after 
the  declaration  of  war,  their  refpeftive  fubjefts,  from  whatever 
part  of  the  world  they  come,  Ihall  not  plead  the  ignorance 
mentioned  in  this  article. 

Art.  XV.  And  that  more  efFeftual  care  may  be  taken  for  the 
fecurity  of  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  of  both  parties,  that 
they  lufFer  no  injury  by  the  men  of  war  or  privateers  of  the 
other  party,  all  the  commanders  of  the  fhips  of  his  Moll  Chrif- 
tian  Majefly  and  of  the  faid  United  States,  and  all  their  fubjefts 


4i6  TREATY   OF 

and  inhabitants,  fhall  be  forbid  doing  any  injury  or  damage  to 
the  other  fide ;  and  if  they  aft  to  the  contrary  they  fliall  be 
puniflied,  and  fhall  moreover  be  bound  to  make  fatisfaftion  for 
all  matter  of  damage,  and  the  intereft  thereof,  by  reparation, 
under  the  pain  and  obligation  of  their  perfons  and  goods. 

Art.  XVI.  All  flaips  and  merchandife,  of  what  nature  foever, 
which  fliall  be  refcued  out  of  the  hands  of  any  pirates  or  rob- 
bers on  the  high  feas,  fliall  be  brought  into  fome  port  of  either 
Itate,  and  fliall  be  delivered  to  the  cuflody  of  the  officers  of 
that  port,  in  order  to  be  reftored  entire  to  the  true  proprietor, 
as  foun  as  due  and  fufHcient  proof  fhall  be  made  concerning  the 
property  thereof. 

Art.  XVII.  It  fliall  be  lawful  for  the  fhips  of  war  of  either 
party,  and  privateers,  freely  to  carry  whitherfoever  they  pleafe 
the  fliips  and  goods  taken  from  their  enemies,  without  being 
obliged  to  pay  any  duty  to  the  ofEcers  of  the  admiralty,  or  any 
ether  judges  ;  nor  fhall  fuch  prizes  be  arrefled  or  feized  when 
they  come  and  enter  the  port  of  each  party  ;  nor  fhall  the 
fearchers  or  other  ofHcers  of  thofe  places  fearch  the  fame,  or 
■make  examination  concerning  the  lawfulnefs  of  fuch  prizes ; 
but  they  may  hoifl  fail  at  any  lime,  and  depart,  and  carry  their 
prizes  to  the  places  expreffed  in  their  commiflions,  which  the 
commanders  of  fuch  fhips  of  war  fliall  be  obliged  to  fhew.  On 
the  contrary,  no  flielter  or  refuge  fhall  be  given  in  their  ports 
to  fuch  as  fliall  have  made  prizes  of  the  fubjefts,  people,  or 
property  of  either  of  the  parties  ;  but  if  fuch  fhall  come  in, 
being  forced  by  flrefs  of  weather,  or  the  danger  of  the  fea,  all 
proper  means  fliall  be  vigoroufly  ufed,  that  they  go  out  and  re- 
tire from  thence  as  foon  as  pofTible. 

Art.  XVIII.  If  any  fhip  belonging  to  either  of  the  parties, 
riieir  people,  or  fubje£is,  fhall,  within  the  coalls  or  dominions  of 
the  other,  flick  upon  the  fands,  or  be  wrecked  or  fuffer  any 
other  damage,  all  friendly  afliftance  and  relief  fliall'  be  given 
to  the  perlons  fliipwrecked,  or  fuch  as  Hull  be  in  danger  thereof. 
And  letters  of  fafe  conduft  fliall  likewifc  be  given  to  them  for 
their  free  and  quiet  paffage  from  thence,  and  the  return  of 
every  one  to  his  own  country. 
_^Arl.  XIX.  In  cafe  the  fubje£ls  and  inhabitants  of  either 
party,  with  their  fliipping,  whether  public  and  of  war,  or  pri- 
-.'ate  and  of  merchants,  be  forced  through  flrefs  of  weather, 
purfuit  of  pirates  or  enemies,  or  any  other  urgent  necefTity,  for 
ieeking  of  fhelter  and  harbour,  to  retreat  and  enter  into  any  of 
tlie  rivers,  bays,  roads,  or  ports  belonging  to   the   other   party, 


AMITY  AND   COMMERCE.  417 

they  fhall  be  received  and  treated  with  all  humanity  and  kind- 
nefs,  and  enjoy  ail  friendly  protedlion  and  help  ;  and  they  fliall 
be  permitted  to  refrefh  and  provide  themfclves  at  reafonable 
rates  with  viftuals  and  all  things  needful  for  the  fuflenance  of 
their  perforts,  or  reparation  of  their  fliips,  and  conveniency  of 
their  voyage,  and  they  {hall  no  ways  be  detained  or  hindered 
from  returning  out  of  the  faid  ports  or  roads,  but  may  remove 
and  depart  when  and  whither  they  pleafe,  without  any  let  or 
hindrance. 

Art.  XXo  For  the  better  promoting  of  commerce  on  both 
fides,  it  is  agreed,  that  if  a  war  {hould  break  out  between  the; 
faid  two  nations,  fix  months  after  the  proclamation  of  war  fhall 
be  allowed  to  the  merchants  in  the  cities  and  towns  where  they 
live,  for  felling  and  tranfporting  their  goods  and  merchandifes  ; 
and  if  any  thing  be  taken  from  them,  or  any  injury  be  done  them 
within  tha""  term,  by  either  party,  or  the  people  or  fubje£ls  of 
either,  full  fatisfaftion  fhall  be  made  for  the  lame. 

Art.  XXI.  No  fubjed  of  the  Moft  Chriftian  King  fhall  apply 
for  or  take  any  commiflion  or  letters  of  marque  for  arming 
any  fliip  or  fhips  to  aft  as  privateers  againil  the  faid  United 
States,  or  any  of  them,  or  againft  the  fubjefts,  people,  or  inha- 
bitants of  the  faid  United  States  or  any  of  them,  or  againft 
the  property  of  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  any  of  them,  front 
any  prince  or  ftatc  with  which  the  United  States  fliall  be  at 
war ;  nor  fhall  any  citizen,  fubjeft,  or  inhabitant  of  the  faid 
United  States,  or  any  of  them^  apply  for  or  take  any  commifuon 
or  letters  of  marque  for  arming  any  fhip  or  fhips  to  aft  as 
privateers  againfl  the  fubjefts  of  the  Mofl  Chriftian  King,  or 
any  of  them,  or  the  property  of  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  any 
of  them,  from  any  prince  or  flate  with  which  the  United  States 
(hall  be  at  war  ;  nor  fhall  any  citizen,  fubjeft  c  irdiabuanc 
of  the  faid  United  States,  or  any  of  them,  apply  for  or  taka 
any  commilhon  or  letters  of  marque  for  arming  any  fhip  or 
fhips  to  aft  as  privateers  againft  the  fubjefts  of  the  Moft  Chrif- 
tian King,  or  any  of  them,  or  the  property  of  any  of  them, 
from  any  prince  or  flate  with  which  the  faid  king  Ihall  ba 
at  war  ;  and  if  any  perfon  of  cither  nation  fhall  take  fuch 
comraiiuou  or  letters  of  marque,  he  fliali  be  puniflred  as  a 
pirate,  * 

Art.  XXII.  It  (hall  not  be  lawful  for  any  foreign  privateer?, 
not  belonging  to  the  fubjefts  of  the  Mofl  Chriftian  King,  nor 
citiicrts  of  the  faid  United  States,  who  have  commilTion  from 
any  other  prince  or  ftate  at  enmity  with  either  nation,  to  fit 
their  fhips  in  the   ports  of  either  the  one  or  the  o*her  of  the 

3H 


4i8  T  R  E  A  TY   0  F 

aforefaid  parties,  to  Tell  what  they  have  taken,  or  in  any  otKer 
-nanner  whatfocver  to  exchange  their  fhips,  merchandifes,  or 
any  orhcr  lading  ;  neither  fhall  they  be  allowed  even  to  pur- 
chafe  vitluals,  except  fuch  as  fhall  be  neceflary  for  their  going 
to  the  next  poi  t  of  that  prince  or  flite  from  which  they  have 
coinmiirions. 

Art.  XXIII.  It  flia!!  be  lawful  for  all  and  fingular  the  fubjcfts 
of  the  Mofl  Chriilian  King,  and  the  citizens,  people,  and  inha- 
bitants of  the  faid  United  States,  to  fail  with  their  fhips  with  all 
manner  of  liberty  and  fecurity,  no  diftindlion  being  made  who 
are  tlie  proprietors  of  the  merchandife  laden  thereon,  from  any 
port  to  the  places  of  thofe  who  now  are  or  hereafter  fliull  be 
at  enmity  with  the  Muft  Chrlftian  King  or  the  United  Slates, 
It  fliall  likewife  be  lawful  for  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  afore- 
faid  to  fail  with  the  Ihips  and  merchandises  aforementioned,  and 
to  trade  with  the  lams  liberty  and  fecutity  from  the  places, 
portsy  and  havens  of  thofe  who  are  enemies  of  both  or  either 
party,  without  an]'  oppofition  or  dillurbanre  whatfoever,  not 
only  direftly  from  the  places  of  the  enemy  aforementioned  to 
T>cutral  placrs,  but  alfo  from  one  place  belonging  to  an  enemy  to 
another  place  belonging  to  an  enemy,  whether  they  be  under 
the  jurifdiftion  of  the  fame  prince  or  under  feveral.  And  it  is 
hereby  fl.ipul.ited,  that  free  fhips  fhall  alfo  have  a  freedom  to 
carry  goods,  and  that  every  thing  fhall  be  deemed  free  and  ex- 
empt which  fl^rtU  be  found  on  board  the  fhips  belonging  to  the 
fubjefts  of  either  of  the  confederates,  although  the  whole  lad- 
ing or  any  part  thereof  ihould  appertain  to  the  enemies  of 
cither,  contraband  goods  being  always  excepted.  It  is  alio 
agreed  in  like  manner  that  the  lame  liberty  be  extended  to  per- 
fons  who  are  on  board  a  free  lliip,  with  this  effeft,  that  although 
they  be  enemies  to  both  or  either  party,  they  are  not  to  be 
taken  out  of  thit  free  Hiip,  unlefs  they  are  foldiers  and  in  aftual 
fcrvice  of  the  enemies. 

Art.  XXIV.  Tliis  liheriy  of  navigation  and  commerce  {hall 
extend  to  all  kinds  of  merchandifes,  except  thofe  only  which 
are  diflinguiflicd  by  the  name  of  contraband  ;  and  under  this 
name  of  contraband  or  prohibited  goods  fliall  be  comprehended 
nrms,  great  guns,  bombs  with  their  fufees  and  other  things 
belonging  to  them,  cannon  ball,  gunpowder,  match,  pikes, 
fwords,  lances,  I'pcars,  h.ilberds,  mortars,  petards,  grcnadoes, 
faltpetre,  mufkcts,  muflcet  ball,  bucklers,  helmets,  bread  plates, 
coals  of  mail,  and  the  like  kinds  of  arms  proper  for  arming 
foldiers,  mufiiet  rcfts,  belts,  liorfes  with  their  furniture,  and 
all     other     warlike     infiruments    wliatqvero      Thefe    merchan- 


AMITY  AND  COMMERCE.  419 

difes  wKich  follow  fliall  not  be  reckoned  among  contraband  cr 
prohibited  goods ;  that  is  to  (ay,  all  forts  of  clothes,  and  all 
other  manufaftures  woven  of  any  wool,  flax,  filk,  cotton,  or 
any  other  materials  whatever;  all  kinds  of  wearing  apparel, 
together  with  the  fpecies  v%'hereof  they  are  ufed  to  be  made, 
gold  and  filver,  as  well  coined  as  uncoined,  tin,  iron, 
latten,  copper,  brafs,  coals ;  as  alio  wheat  and  barley,  and 
any  other  kind  of  corn  or  puUe,  tobacco,  and  likewile  all  man- 
ner of  fpices,  felted  and  fmoakcd  flefh,  faited  fifh,  cheefe  and 
butter,  beer,  oils,  wines,  fugars,  and  all  forts  of  falts,  and  in 
general  all  provifions  which  ferve  for  the  nouriflimcnt  of  man- 
kind and  the  fuftenan^e  of  life  ;  furthermore,  all  kinds  of 
cotton,  hemp,  flax,  tar,  pitch,  ropes,  Ciiblcs,  fails,  fail-ciothj 
anchors,  and  any  parts  of  anchors,  alio  fliips  mails,  planks, 
boards  and  beams  of  what  trees  loever,  and  all  other  things 
proper  either  for  building  or  repairing  fliips,  and  all  other  goods 
whatever  which  have  not  been  worked  into  the  form  of  any 
inftrument  or  thing  prepared  for  war  by  land  or  lea,  fliall  not 
be  reputed  contraband,  much  lefs  fuch  as  have  been  already 
•wrought  up  for  any  ether  ufe ;  all  of  which  fliall  be  wholly 
reckoned  among  free  goods;  as  likewife  all  other  merchan- 
difes  and  things  wiiich  are  not  comprehended  and  particularly 
jnentioned  in  the  foregoing  enumeration  of  contraband  goods, 
fo  that  they  may  be  tranfported  and  carried  in  the  frceft  manner 
by  the  lubjc£ls  of  both  confederates  even  to  places  belonging  to 
an  enemy,  luch  towns  or  places  being  only  excepted  as  are  a: 
that  time  befieged,  blocked  up  or  invefled. 

Art.  XXV.  To  the  end  that  all  manner  of  diffenfions  and 
quarrels  may  be  avoided  and  prevented  on  one  fide  and  the 
other,  it  is  agreed,  that  in  cafe  either  of  the  parries  hereto  fhould 
be  engaged  in  war,  the  fhips  and  velfels  belonging  to  the 
fubjefts  of  people  of  the  other  ally  muft  be  furnifhed  with 
fea  letters  or  pajGTports,  ej^prefRng  the  name,  property,  and 
bulk  of  the  fliip,  as  alfo  the  name  and  place  of  habitation  •  of 
the  mailer  or  commander  of  the  faid  (hip,  that  it  may  appciir 
thereby  that  the  fhip  really  and  truly  belongs  to  the  Iubjc6l? 
of  one  of  the  parties,  which  paffport  fliall  be  made  out  ar.d 
granted  according  to  the  form  annexed  to  this  treaty ;  they 
Ihall  likewile  be  recalled  every  year,  that  is,  if  the  firip  happrn'; 
to  return  home  within  the  fpace  of  a  year  ;  it  is  likewile  agreed, 
that  fuch  fhips  being  laden  are  to  be  provided  not  only  with 
paffports  as  above  mentioned,  but  alio  with  cirtificates.  tontain- 
jng  the  feveral  particulars   of  the  cargo,  tlie   pbce    v/hcnc"   t!:? 

3  H  2 


4CC  TR  E  A  TY  0  F. 

(hip  failed,  and  whither  flie  is  bound,  that  fo  it  may'bc'knowtt 
whether  any  forbidden  or  contraband  goods  be  on  board  of  the 
fame,  wliich  cirtificates  fiiall  be  made  out  by  the  officers  of 
the  place  ^v'hence  the  fliip  let  fail,  in  the  accu domed  form  ;  and 
if  any  one  fhall  think  it  fit  or  advileable  to  exprefs  in  the  faid 
certificates  the  perfon  to  whom  the  goods  on  board  belong,  he 
may  freely  do  fo. 

Art.  XXVI.  The  fiiips  of  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  of 
either  of  the  parties  coming  upon  any  coaft  belonging  to  either 
of  the  (aid  allies,  but  not  willing  to  enter  into  port,  or  being 
entered  into  port  and  not  willing  to  unload  their  cargoes,  or 
break  bulk,  they  fhaU  be  treated  according  to  the  general 
rules  prcfcribed  or  to  be  prefcribed  relative  to  the  obje£l  in 
quellion. 

Art.  XXVII.  If  the  fliips  of  the  faid  fubjcfts,  people  or  in- 
habitants of  cither  of  the  parties  fliall  be  met  with,  either  failing 
along  the  coafts  or  on  the  high  feas,  by  any  fliip  of  war  of  the 
other,  or  by  any  privateers,  the  faid  fhips  of  war  or  privateers, 
for  the  avoiding  of  any  difordcr,  fhall  remain  out  of  cannon  fliot, 
and  may  fend  their  beats  on  board  the  merchant  fhip  which  they 
fhall  fo  meet  with,  and  may  enter  her  to  ^be  number  of  two 
or  three  men  only,  to  whom  the  maflcr  or  commmander  of  fuch 
fhip  or  veffel  fliall  exhibit  his  paflport  concerning  the  property 
of  the  fliip,  made  out  according  to  the  form  infertcd  in  this 
preTent  treaty  ;  and  the  fliip,  \yhen  flie  fliall  have  fhcwed  fuch 
pnffport,  fhall  be  free  and  at  liberty  to  purfue  her  voyage,  fo 
as  it  fhall  not  be  lawful  to  moleft  or  fearch  in  any  manner, 
or  to  give  her  chace,  or  to  force  her  to  ^uit  her  intended 
courfe. 

Art,  XXVIII.  It  is  alfo  agreed,  that  all  goods,  when  once 
put  on  board  the  fhips  or  vefTels  of  either  of  the  two  contra£l- 
jng  parties,  fiiall  be  fubjeft  to  no  further  vifitation,  but  all 
vifitation  or  fearch  fliall  be  made  beforehand,  and  all  prohibited 
g  .  )d3  fiiall  be  flopped  on  the  fpot  before  the  fame  be  put  on 
board,  unlefs  there  are  manifefl  tokens  or  proofs  of  fraudulent 
prafticc  ;  nor  fhall  either  the  perfons  or  goods  of  the  fubjefts  of 
his  Mod  Chriftian  Majefty,  or  the  United  States,  be  put  under 
anv  arveft,  or  molefted  by  any  other  kind  of  embargo  for  that 
cauic,  and  only  the  iubjcft  of  that  State  to  whom  the  faid  goods 
have  been  or  fnnll  be  prohibited,  and  who  fnall  prefumc  to 
fell  or  alienate  fuch  fort  of  goods,  fliall  be  duly  punifhcd  for 
the  offence. 

Art.  XXIX.  The  two  contrafting  parties  grant  mutually 
the   liberty   of  having   each  in   the   ports   of  the  other,  conluls. 


^AMITY  AND   COMMERCE.  421 

ft'ice-confyls,  agents  and  commiffarieSj  whore  funftions  fhall  be 
regulated  by  a  particular  agreement. 

Art.  XXX.  And  the  more  to  favour  and  facilitate  the  com- 
merce which  the  fubjefts  of  the  United  States  may  have  with 
France,  the  Moft  Chriftian  King  will  grant  them  in  Europe  ens 
or  more  free  ports,  where  they  may  bring  and  difpofe  of  all  the 
produce  and  merchandife  of  the  Thirteen  United  States  ;  and 
his  Majefly  will  alio  continue  to  the  fubjefts  of  the  faid  States, 
the  free  ports  which  have  been  and  are  open  in  the  French 
iflancl';  of  America,  of  all  which  free  ports  the  faid  fubjefts  of 
the  United  States  (hall  enjoy  the  ufc,  agreeable  to  the  regulations 
which  relate  to  them. 

Art.  XXXI.  The  prefent  treaty  fhall  be  ratified  on  both  fides, 
and  the  ratifications  fhall  be  exchanged  in  the  fpace  of  fix 
months,   or  fooner,  if  poffible. 

In  faith  whereof  the  refpeftive  plenipotentiaries  have  figned 
the  above  articles  both  in  the  French  and  Englilh  lan- 
guages ;  declaring,  nevertheleis,  that  the  prefent  treaty 
was  originally  compofed  and  concluded  in  the  French 
language,  and  they  have  thereto  affixed  their  feals. 

Done  at  Paris,  this  fixth   day  of  February,    one   thou- 
fand  feven  hundred  and  feventy-eight. 

(L.  S.)  C.  A.  GERARD, 

(L.  S.)  B.  FRANKLIN, 

(L.  S.)  SILAS  DEANE, 

(L.  S.)  ARTHUR  LEE. 

Form  of  the  pajfports  and  letters  which  are  to   be  given   to  the  jlrip! 
and  barques,  according  to  the  tzventy-fifth  article  of  this  treaty. 

To  all  who  fhall  fee  thefe  prefents,  greeting  : 
IT  is  hereby  made  known,  that  leave  and  permiffion  has  been 
given  to  mailer  and  commander  of  the  fhip  called 

of  the  town  of  burthen  tons, 

or  thereabouts,  lying  at  prefent  in  the  port  and  haven  of 
and  bound  for  and  laden  with  after 

that  this  fhip  has  been  vlfited,  and  before  failing,  he  fiiall  make 
oath  before  the  officers  who  have  the  jurifdiftion  of  maritime 
affairs,  that  the  faid  fhip  belorigs  to  one  or  more  of  the  fubjefts 
of  the  aft  whereof  (hall  be  put  at  the  end  of  thefe  pre- 

fents ;  as  likcwife  that  he  will  keep,  and  caufe  to  be  kept  by  his 
crew  on  board,  the  marine  ordinances  and  regulations,  and  enter 


422  TREATY   0  F 

in  the  proper  office  a  lift,  figned  and  witneffed,  containing  the 
names  and  furnames,  the  places  of  birtli  and  abode  of  the  crew 
of  his  {hip,  and  of  all  who  fhall  embark,  on  board  her,  whom 
he  fhall  not  take  on  board  without  the  knowledge  and  permifhoii 
of  the  officers  of  the  marine  ;  and  in  every  port  or  haven  where 
he  fhall  enter  with  his  fhip,  he  fhall  fhcw  his  prefent  leave  to 
the  officers  and  judges  of  the  marine;  and  fliall  give  a  faithful 
account  to  them  of  what  paffed  and  was  done  during  his  voy- 
age ;  and  he  fhall  carry  the  colours,  arms  and  enfign  of  the  King 
or  United  States  during  his  voyage.  In  witnels  whereof  we 
have  figned  thefe  prefents,  and  put  the  fcal  of  our  arms  there« 
unto,  and  caufed  the  fame  to  be  counterfign^d  by 
at  the  day  of  Anno  Pomini 


TREATY    OF    ALLIANCE, 

EVENTUAL    AND    DEFENSIVE. 


^ 


X 


LOUIS,  by  the  Grace   of  Goo,   King  of  France  and 
Navarre,  to  all  who  fhall  fee  thefe  prefents,  greeting: 


HE  Congrefs  of  the  United  States  of  North-America 
having,  by  their  plenipotentiaries  refiding  in  France,  propofed 
to  form  with  us  a  defenfive  and  eventual  alliance  ;  Willing  to 
give  the  faid  States  an  efficacious  proof  of  the  intereft  we  take 
in  their  profperity,  we  have  determined  to"  conclude  the  faid 
alliance.  For  thefe  caufcs,  and  other  good  confiderations 
thereto  moving,  we,  repofing  entire  confidence  in  the  capa- 
city and  experience,  zeal  and  fidelity  for  our  fervicc,  of  our 
dear  and  beloved  Conrad  Alexander  Gerard,  royal  fyndic  of 
the  city  of  Strafburg,  fecretary  of  our  council  of  flate,  have 
nominated,  commiffioned  and  deputed,  and  by  thefe  prefents, 
figned  with  our  hand,  do  nominate,  commiffion  and  depute 
him  our  plenipotentiary,  giving  him  power  and  fpecial  com- 
mand to  aft  in  this  quality,  and  confer,  negociate,  treat  and 
ngrec  conjointly  with  the  above-mentioned  plenipotentiaries  of 
the  United  States,  invefled  in  the  like  manner  with  powers  in 
due  form,  to  determine,  conclude  and  fign  luch  articles,  con- 
ditions, conventions,  declarations,  definitive   treaty,    and  any 


A  L  L  I  A  N  C  -E, 


4^3 


other  afts  whatever,  as  he  fhall  judge  proper  to  anfwer  the 
end  which  we  propofe;  promifing  on  the  faith  and  word  of  a 
king,  to  agree  to,  confirm  and  eftablifh  for  ever,  to  accomplifh 
and  execute  punftually,  whatever  our  faid  dear  and  beloved 
Conrad  Alexander  Gerard  fhall  have  ftipulated  and  figned  in 
virtue  of  the  prefent  power,  without  ever  contravening  it, 
or  fufFering  it  to  be  contravened  for  any  caufe  and  under  any 
pretext  whatever  ;  as  likewife  to  caufe  our  letters  of  ratifica- 
tion to  be  made  in  due  form,  and  to  have  them  delivered,  in 
order  to  be  exchanged  at  the  time  that  fhall  be  agreed  upon. 
For  fuch  is  our  pleafure.  In  teflimony  whereof  we  have  fet 
our  feal  to  thefe  prefents.  Given  at  Verfailles,  the  thirtieth 
day  of  the  month  of  January,  in  the  year  of  grace,  one  thou- 
land  feven  hundred  and  fevcnty-eight,  and  the  fourth  of  our 
reign. 

(Signed) 
(L.  S.)  LOUIS. 

By  the  King, 
GRAVIER  DE  VERGENNES, 

TREATY. 

The  Moft  Chriflian  King  and  the  United  States  of  North- 
America,  to  wit,  New-Hampfhire,  Maffachufetts  Bay,  Rhode- 
Ifland,  Connefticut,  New-York,  New-Jerfey,  Pennfylvania,  De- 
laware, Maryland,  Virginia,  North-Carolina,  South-Carolina,  and 
Georgia,  having  this  day  concluded  a  treaty  of  amity  and  com- 
merce, for  the  reciprocal  advantage  of  their  fubjefts  and  citi- 
zens, have  thought  it  necefiary  to  take  into  confideration  the 
means  of  ftrengthening  thofe  engagements,  and  of  rendering 
them  ufeful  to  the  fafety  and  tranquillity  of  the  two  parties  ; 
particularly  in  cafe  Great-Britain,  in  refentment  of  that  connec- 
tion, and  of  the  good  correfpondence  which  is  the  objeft  of  the 
faid  treaty,  fliould  break  the  peace  with  France,  either  by  direft 
hoflilities,  or  by  hindering  her  commerce  and  navigation  in  a 
manner  contrary  to  the  rights  of  nations,  and  the  peace  fubfifting 
between  the  two  crowns.  And  his  Majefty  and  the  faid  United 
States  having  refolved  in  that  cafe  to  join  their  counfels  and 
efforts  againft  the  enterprifes  of  their  common  enemy  ; 

The  relpeftive  plenipotentiaries  impowered  to  concert  the 
claufes  and  conditions  proper  to  fulfil  the  faid  intentions,  have, 
after  the  moft  mature  deliberation,  concluded  and  determined  on 
the  following  articles  ; 

Article  I.  If  war  fhould  break  out  between  France  and  Great- 
Britain  during  the  continuance  of  the  prefent  war  between  the 


424  TREATl^  0  F 

United  States  and  England,  his  Majefty  and  the  faid  United 
States  fhall  make  it  a  common  caufe,  and  aid  each  other  mutually 
with  their  good  ofHces,  their  counfels  and  their  forces,  according 
to  the  exigence  of  conjunfbures,  as  becomes  good  and  faithful 
allies. 

Art.  II.  The  efTential  and  direft  end  of  the  prefcnt  defenftve 
alliance  is,  to  maintain  effeftually  the  liberty,  fov^reignty  and  in- 
dependence, abfolute  and  unlimited,  of  the  faid  United  States, 
as  well  in  matters  of  government  as  of  commerce. 

Art.  III.  The  two  cont rafting  parties  fhall,  each  on  its  own 
part,  and  in  the  manner  it  may  judge  mofl  proper,  make  all  the 
efforts  in  its  power  againft  their  common  enemy,  in  order  to  at^ 
tain  the  end  propofed. 

Art.  IV.  The  contrafting  parties  agree,  that  in  cafe  either  of 
them  fhould  form  any  particular  enterprife  in  which  the  concur- 
rence of  the  other  may  be  defired,  the  party  whofe  concurrence 
is  defired  fhall  readily  and  with  good  faith  join  to  aft  in  concert 
for  that  purpofe,  as  far  as  circumftances  and  its  own  particular 
lituation  will  permit  ;  and  in  that  cafe,  they  fhall  regulate,  by  » 
particular  convention,  the  quantity  and  kind  of  luccour  to  be 
furnifhed,  and  the  time  and  manner  of  its  being  brought  into 
aftion,  as  well  as  the  advantages  which  are  to  be  its  compenfa- 
tion. 

Art.  V.  If  the  United  States  fhould  think  fit  to  attempt  the 
rcduftion  of  the  Britifh  power  remaining  in  the  northern  parts 
of  America,  or  the  iflunds  of  Bermudas,  thole  countries  or 
iflands,  in  cafe  of  fuccefs,  fhall  be  confederated  with,  or  de- 
pendent upon,  the  laid  United  States. 

Art.  VI.  The  Moft  Chrifhian  King  renounces  for  ever  the 
poffeftion  of  the  iflands  of  Bermudas,  as  well  as  of  any  part  ef 
the  continent  of  North-America,  which,  before  the  treaty  of 
Par;s,  in  1763,  or  in  virtue  of  that  treaty,  were  acknowledged 
to  belong  to  the  crown  of  Great-Britain,  or  to  the  United  States, 
heretofore  called  Britifh  colonies,  or  which  are  at  this  time,  or 
have  lately  been,  under  the  power  of  the  King  and  Crown  of 
Great-Britain, 

Art.  VII.  If  his  Mofl  Chriftian  Majefly  fhall  think  proper  to 
attack  any  of  the  iflands  iituated  in  the  Gulph  of  Mexico,  or 
near  that  Gulph,  which  are  at  prelent  under  the  power  of  Great- 
Britain,  all  the  faid  ifles,  in  cafe  of  fuccefs,  fhall  appertain  to 
the  Crown  of  France. 

Art.  VIII.  Neither  of  the  two  parties  fhall  conclude  either 
truce  or  peace  with  Great-Britain,  without  the  formal  confent  of 


ALLIANCE.  425 

the  other  firft  obtained ;  and  they  mutually  engage  not  to  lay 
down  their  arms,  until  the  independence  of  the  United  States 
(hall  have  been  formally  or  tacitly  alTured,  by  the  treaty  or 
treaties  that  fhall  terminate  th.e  war. 

Art.  IX.  The  contrdfting  parties  declare,  that  being  refolved 
to  fulfil  each  on  its  own  part,  the  claufes  and  conditions  of 
ihe  prefent  treaty  of  alliance,  according  to  its  own  power  and 
circumflances,  there  ihall  be  no  after-claim  of  compenlation, 
on  one  fide  or  the  other,  whatever  may  be  the  event  of  the 
war.  " 

Art.  X.  The  Moft  Chriftian  King  and  the  United  States 
agree  to  invite  or  admit  other  powers,  who  may  have  received 
injuries  from  England,  to  make  a  common  caufe  with  them, 
and  to  accede  to  the  prefent  alliance,  under  fuch  conditions 
as  fhall  be  freely  agreed  to,  and  fettled  between  all  the 
parties. 

Art.  XI.  The  two  parties  guarantee  mutually,  from  the  pre- 
fent time  and  for  ever,  againft  all  other  powers,  to  wit,  the 
United  States  to  his  Mofl  Chriftian  Majefty,  the  prefent  poffef- 
fions  of  the  Crown  of  France  in  America,  as  well  as  thofe 
which  it  may  acquire  by  the  future  treaty  of  peace  ;  and  his 
Moft  Chriftian  Majefty  guarantees,  on  his  part,  to  the  United 
States,  their  liberty,  fovereignty  and  independence,  abfolute  and 
unlimited,  as  well  in  matters  of  government  as  commerce,  and 
alfo  their  pofteffions,  and  the  additions  or  conquefts  that  their 
confederation  may  obtain  during  the  war,  from  any  of  the  do- 
minions now  or  heretofore  poireffed  by  Great-Britain  in  North- 
America,  conformable  to  the  fifth  and  fixth  articles  above 
written ;  the  whole,  as  their  polfeffion,  fliall  be  fixed  and 
allured  to  the  faid  States,  at  the  moment  of  the  ceifation  of  their 
prefent  war  with  England. 

Art.  XII.  In  order  to  fix  more  precifely  the  fenfe  and  appli- 
cation of  the  preceding  article,  the  contrafting  parties  declare, 
that  in  cafe  of  a  rupture  between  France  and  England,  the  re- 
ciprocal guarantee  declared  in  the  faid  article  fhall  have  its  full 
force  and  eft'ed,  the  moment  fuch  war  (hall  br;ak  out ;  and 
if  iuch  rupture  fhall  not  take  place,  the  mutual  obligations 
of  the  faid  guarantee  fliall  not  commence  until  the  moment 
of  the  celTation  of  the  prefent  war  between  the  United  State* 
and  England  fhall  have  afcertained  their  poffeflions. 

Art.  XIII.  The  prefent  treaty  fliall  be  ratified  on  both  fides, 
and  ratifications  fhall  be  exchanged  in  the  fpace  of  fix  months, 
or  fooner,  if  poflible, 

3  I 


4tS  CONVENTION    BETWEEN 

In  faith  whereof  the  refpcfttve  plenipotentiaries,  to  wit,  an 
the  part  of  the  Moft  Chriftian  King,  Conrad  Alexander 
Gerard,  royal  fyndic  of  the  city  of  Strafburg,  and  fecre- 
tary  of  his  Majefly's  Council  of  State  ;  and  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States,  Benjamin  Franklin,  deputy  to  the 
General  Congrefs  from  the  State  of  Pennfylvania,  and  prc- 
fidcnt  of  the  Convention  of  faid  State  ;  Silas  Deane,  here- 
tofore deputy  from  the  State  of  Connefticut  ;  and  Arthur 
Lcc,  counfellor  at  Uw,  have  figned  the  above  articles 
both  in  the  French  and  Englifh  languages ;  declaring, 
neverthelefs,  that  the  prefcnt  treaty  was  originally  com- 
pofed  and  concluded  in  the  French  language,  and  they 
have  hereunto  affixed  their  feals. 

Done  at   Paris  this  hxth  day  of  February,  one  thoufand 
fcven  hundred  and  fevcnty-eight. 

(L.  S.)  C.  A.  GERARD, 

(L.  S.)  B.  FRANKLIN, 

(L.  S.)  SILAS  DEANE, 

(L.  S.)  ARTHUR  LEE. 


CONVENTION  BETWEEN  FRANCE  AND  AMERICA, 

By  tht  Pfefidcnt  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
A  PROCLAMATION. 


w, 


HEREAS  a  conventioii,  for  defining  and  cflabliftiing  the 
funftions  and  privileges  of  the  relpeftive  confuls  and  vice- 
confuls  of  his  Moft  Chriftian  Majefty  and  the  faid  United 
States,  was  concluded  and  figned  by  the  plenipotentiaries  of 
his  faid  Moft  Chriftian  Majefty  and  of  the  faid  United  States, 
duly  and  refpeftively  authorifed  for  that  purpofe,  which  con- 
vention is  in  the  form  following,  viz. 

CONVENTION, 

Between  his  Mojl  Chrijlian  Majejly  and  the  United  States  of  Amt' 
rica,  for  the  purpofe  of  denning  and  ejiablijliing  the  functions  and 
privileges  oj  their  rejpedive  confuls  and  vice-confuls. 

His   Majefty  the  Moft  Chriftian  King  and  the  United  States 
of  America  having,  by   the  twenty-ninth  article  of  the  treaty 


FRANCE  AND  AMERICA.  ^s^ 

«>f  Amity  and  Commerce  concluded  between  them,  mutually 
granted  the  liberty  of  having,  in  their  refpeftive  States  and 
ports,  confuls,  vice-confuls,  agents  and  commiflaries ;  and  be- 
ing willing,  in  confequencc  thereof,  to  define  and  eftablifh,  in 
a  reciprocal  and  permanent  manner,  the  funftions  and  privilege* 
of  confuls  and  vice-confuls,  which  they  have  judged  it  con- 
venient to  eftablifh  of  preference,  his  Moft  Chriftian  Majefty 
has  nominated  the  Sieur  Count  of  Montmorin,  of  St.  HerenX, 
marechal  of  his  camps  and  armies,  knight  of  his  orders  and 
of  the  Golden  Fleece,  his  counfellor  in  all  his  councils,  miniftcr 
and  fecretary  of  ftate  and  of  his  commajndments  and  finances^ 
having  the  department  of  foreign  affairs ;  and  the  United  Statea 
have  nominated  the  Sieur  Thomas  JefFerfon,  citizen  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  their  minifter  plenipotentiary 
pear  the  king,  who,  after  having  communicated  to  each 
other  their  refpeftive  full  powers,  have  agreed  on  what  fol- 
lows ; 

Art.  I.  The  confuls  and  vice-confuls,  named  by  the  Moft 
Chriftian  King  and  the  United  States,  {hall  be  bound  to  prefent 
their  commiflions  according  to  the  forms  which  fhall  be  efta:- 
blifhed  refpeftively  by  the  Moft  Chriftian  King  within  his  do- 
minions, and  by  the  Congrefs  within  the  United  States.  There 
fliall  be  delivered  to  them,  without  any  charges,  the  exequatur 
necefl"ary  for  the  exercife  of  their  funftions  :  and  on  exhibiting 
the  faid  exequatur,  the  governors,  commanders,  head«  of  juf- 
tice,  bodies  corporate,  tribunals  and  other  officers,  having 
authority  in  the  ports  and  places  of  their  confulates,  fhall  caufe 
them  to  enjoy,  immediately  and  without  difficulty,  the  pre-emi- 
nences, authority  and  privileges,  reciprocally  granted,  without 
exafting  from  the  faid  coniuls  and  vice-coniuls  any  fees  under 
any  pretext  whatever. 

Art.  II.  The  confuls  and  vke-confuls,  and  perfons  attached 
to  their  fun&ions,  that  is  to  fay,  their  chancellors  and  fecretaries, 
Ihall  enjoy  a  full  and  entire  immunity  for  their  chancery  and 
the  papers  which  fhall  be  therein  contained.  They  fhall  be  ex- 
empt from  all  perfonal  fervice,  from  foldier's  billets,  militia, 
watch,  guard,  guardianfhip,  trufteefhip,  as  well  as  from  all 
duties,  taxes,  impofitions,  and  charges  whatfover,  except  on 
the  eftate  real  and  perfonal  of  which  they  may  be  the  propri- 
etors or  polTefTors,  which  fhall  be  fubjeft  to  the  taxes  impofed 
on  the  eftates  of  all  other  individuals:  and  in  all  other  inftan- 
ces,  they  fhall  be  fubjeft  to  the  laws  of  the  land,  as  the  natives 
are.  Thoie  of  the  faid  coniuls  and  vice-confuls,  who  fhall 
cxercile   commerce,  fhall    be   refpeftively   iubjett    to    all  taxesj 

3   I    2 


423  CONVENTION   BETWEEN 

charges  and  impofitions,  eflablidied  on  other  merchants.  They 
Ihall  place  over  the  outward  door  of  their  houfe,  the  arms  of 
their  fovereign  ;  but  this  mark  of  indication  fhall  not  give  to 
the  faid  houfe  any  privilege  of  afylum  for  any  peifon  or  pro- 
perty whatfoever. 

Art.  III.  The  refpeftive  confuls  and  vice-confuls  may  efta- 
blifh  agents  in  the  different  ports  and  places  of  their  depart- 
ments, where  neceffity  Ihall  require.  Thefe  agents  may  be 
chofen  among  the  merchants,  either  national  or  foreign,  and 
furnifhed  with  a  commifTion  from  one  of  the  faid  confuls. 
They  ihjU  confine  themfelves  refpeftively  to  the  rendering 
to  their  refpeftive  merchants,  navigators  and  veffels,  all  pof- 
fible  fervice,  and  to  inform  the  nearefl  conful  of  the  wants 
of  the  faid  merchants,  navigators  and  veffels — without  the 
faid  agents  otherwife  participating  in  the  immunities,  rights 
and  privileges,  attributed  to  confuls  and  vice-confuls — and 
without  power,  under  any  pretext  whatever,  to  cxaft  from 
the  faid  merchants  any  duty  or  emolument  whatfoever. 

Art.  IV.  The  confuls  and  vice-confuls  refpeftively  may  efla- 
blifh  a  chancery,  where  fhall  be  depofited  the  confular  determi- 
nations, afts  and  proceedings,  as  alfo  teftaments,  obligations, 
contrafts  and  other  afts,  done  by  or  between  perfons  of  their 
nation,  and  effefts  left  by  deceafed  perfons,  or  faved  from  fhip- 
"Wreck.  They  may,  confequently,  appoint  fit  perfons  to  a£i 
in  the  faid  chancery  ;  receive  and  fwear  them  in  ;  commit  to 
them  the  cuftody  of  the  feal,  and  authority  to  feal  commiffions, 
fentences  and  other  confular  afts  ;  and  alfo  to  difcharge  the 
funftions  of  notary  and  regifter  of  the  confulate. 

Art.  V.  The  confuls  and  vice-confu!s  refpeSively  fhall  have 
the  exclufive  right  of  receiving  in  their  chancery,  or  on  board 
of  veffcls,  the  declarations  and  all  other  afts,  which  the  cap- 
tains, mafters,  crews,  paffengers  and  merchants  of  their  nation 
may  choofe  to  make  there,  even  their  teftaments  and  other 
difpofals  by  lafl  will  :  and  the  copies  of  the  faid  afts,  duly 
authenticated  by  the  faid  confuls  or  vice-confuls,  under  the 
feal  of  the  confulate,  fhall  receive  faith  in  law,  equally  as 
their  originals  would,  in  all  the  tribunals  of  the  dominions  of 
the  Moft  Chriftian  King  and  of  the  United  States,  They  fhall 
alfo  have,  and  exclufively,  in  cafe  of  the  abfence  of  the  tefta- 
mentary  executor,  adminiftrator,  or  legal  heir,  the  right  to  inven- 
tory, liquidate  and  proceed  to  the  fale  of  the  perfonal  eflate  left 
by  fubjetVs  or  citizens  of  their  nation,  who  fhall  die  within 
the    extent    of  their   confulate  r   they  fhall  proceed  thither  with 


TRANCE  AND  AMERICA,  485, 

the  alTi fiance  of  two  merchants  of  their  nation,  or,  for  want  of 
them,  of  any  other  at  their  choice ;  arvd  fhall  caufe  to  be  dc- 
pofited  in  their  chancery  the  effefts  and  papers  of  the  faid 
eflates  :  and  no  officer,  military,  judiciary,  or  of  the  police  of 
the  country,  fhall  difturb  them  or  interfere  therein,  in  any 
manner  whatfoever :  but  the  faid  confuls  and  vice-confuls  (hall 
not  deliver  up  the  faid  effefts,  nor  the  proceeds  thereof,  to  tlie 
lawful  heirs,  or  to  their  order,  till  they  Ihall  have  caufcd  to  bp 
pjid  all  debts  which  the  deceafed  fhall  have  contrafted  in  the 
country  :  for  which  purpofe  the  creditors  (hall  have  a  right  tp 
attach  the  faid  effefts  in  their  hands,  as  they  might  in  thole  of 
any  other  individual  whatever,  and  proceed  to  obtain  fale  ojF 
them  till  payment  of  what  fhall  be  lawfully  due  to  them. 
When  the  debts  ih-all  not  have  been  contrafted  by  judgment, 
deed  or  note,  the  fignature  whereof  fhall  be  known,  payment 
fhall  not  be  ordered  but  on  the  creditor's  giving  fufficient  fure- 
ty,  refident  in  the  country,  tp  refund  the  fums  he  fliall  have 
unduly  received,  principal,  intereft  and  cofts  :  which  furcty, 
neverthclefs,  fliall  (land  duly  difcharged  after  the  term  of  one 
year  in  time  of  peace,  and  of  two  in  time  of  war,  if  the  de- 
mand in  difcharge  cannot  be  formed  before  the  end  of  this  term, 
againfl  the  heirs  who  (hall  prefent  themfelves.  And  in  order 
that  the  heirs  may  not  unjuftly  be  kept  out  of  the  effefts  of  the 
deceafed,  the  confuls  and  vice-confuls  fhall  notify  his  death  in 
fome  of  the  gazettes  publifhed  within  their  coniulate ;  and  that 
they  fliall  retain  the  faid  efFefts  in  their  hands  feven  months,  to 
anfwer  all  demands  which  fhall  be  prefented  ;  and  they  fliall  be 
bound,  after  this  delay,  to  deliver  to  the  perfons  fucceeding 
thereto,  what  fhall  be  more  than  fufBcient  for  the  demands 
which  fhall  have  been  formed. 

Art.  VI.  The  confuls  and  vice-confuls  refpeftively  fhall  re- 
ceive the  declarations,  protefts  and  reports,  of  all  captains  and 
mafters  of  their  refpeftive  nations,  on  account  of  average  loffes 
fuflained  at  fea  ;  and  thefe  captains  and  maflers  fhall  lodge  in 
the  chancery  of  the  faid  confuls  and  vice-confuls,  the  afts 
which  they  may  have  made  in  other  ports  on  account  of  the 
accidents  which  may  have  happened  to  them  on  their  voyage. 
If  a  fubjeft  of  the  Moft  Chriftian  King,  and  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  or  a  foreigner,  are  interefted  in  the  faid  cargo, 
the  average  fiiall  be  fettled  by  the  tribunals  of  the  country,  and 
not  by  the  confuls  or  vice-confuls  ;  but  when  only  the  fuhjefts 
or  citizens  of  their  own  nation  fhall  be  interefted,  the  rcipec- 
tive  confuls  or  vice-confuls  fhal!  appoint  Ikilfu!  perfons  to  fettle 
the  damaaes  and  average. 


43©  CONVENTION  BETWEEN 

Art.  VII.  In  cafes  where  by  tempeft,  or  other  accident, 
French  fliips  or  veffels  Taall  be  ftrandcd  on  the  coafts  of  the 
United  States  ;  and  fhips  or  veffels  of  the  United  States  (hall  be 
ftranded  on  the  coafts  of  the  dominions  of  the  Moft  Chriflian 
King  ;  the  conful  or  vice-conful,  neareft  to  the  place  of  fhip. 
wreck,  (hall  do  whatever  he  may  judge  proper,  as  well  for  the 
purpofe  of  faving  the  faid  fhip  or  veflel,  its  cargo  and  appurte- 
nances, as  for  the  ftoring  and  fecurity  of  the  effeOis  and  mer- 
chandife  faved.  He  may  take  an  inventory  of  them,  without 
the  intermeddling  of  any  officers  of  the  military,  of  the  cuf- 
toms,  of  juflice,  or  of  the  police  of  the  country,  otherwifc 
than  to  give  to  the  confuls,  vice-confuls,  captain  and  crew  of 
the  veffel,  fhipwrecked  or  ftranded,  all  the  fuccour  and  favour 
which  they  fhall  afk  of  them,  either  for  the  expedition  and  fe- 
curity of  the  faving  and  of  the  effefts  faved,  as  to  prevent  all 
difturbance.  And  in  order  to  prevent  all  kinds  of  difpute  and 
difcuffion,  in  the  faid  cafes  of  ftiipwreck,  it  is  agreed,  that  when 
there  fhall  be  no  conful  or  vice-conful  to  attend  to  the  faving  of 
the  wreck,  or  that  the  refidence  of  the  faid  couful  or  vice-con- 
ful (he  not  being  at  the  place  of  the  wreck)  fliall  be  more  dif- 
tant  from  the  faid  place,  than  that  of  the  competent  judge  of 
the  country,  the  latter  fhall  immediately  proceed  therein  with 
all  the  dilpatch,  certainty  and  precautions,  prelcribed  by  the 
refpeftive  laws  ;  but  the  faid  territorial  judge  fhall  retire,  on  the 
arrival  of  the  conful  or  vice-conful,  and  fhall  deliver  over  to 
him  the  report  of  his  proceedings,  the  expenfes  of  which  the 
conful  or  vice-conful  fhall  caufe  to  be  reimbujTed  to  him,  as  well 
as  thofe  of  faving  the  wreck.  The  merchandife  and  effefts  faved 
fhall  be  depofited  in  the  neareft  cuftom-houfe,  or  other  place  of 
fafety,  with  the  inventory  thereof,  which  fhall  have  been  made 
by  the  conful  or  vice-confuls,  or  by  the  judge  who  fhall  have 
proceeded  in  their  abfence,  that  the  faid  effefts  and  merchan- 
dife may  be  afterwards  delivered,  (after  levying  therefrom  the 
cofts)  and  without  form  of  procefs  to  the  owners,  who,  being 
furnifhed  with  an  order  for  their  deliveiy  from  the  neareft  con- 
ful or  vice-conful,  fliall  re-claim  them  by  themfelves,  or  by  their 
order,  either  for  the  purpofe  of  re-exporting  iuch  merchandife, 
in  which  cafe  they  fhall  pay  no  kind  of  duties  of  exportation  ; 
or  for  that  of  felling  them  in  the  country,  if  they  be  not  pro- 
hibited there  ;  and  in  this  laft  cafe,  the  faid  merchandife,  if 
they  be  damaged,  fhall  be  allowed  an  abatem.ent  of  entrance  du- 
ties, proportioned  to  the   damage   they   have    fuftained,   whiclj 


FRANCE  AND  AMERICA.  ^^i 

fliali  be  afcertained  by  the  affidavits  taken  at  the  time  the  veliel 
Was  wrecked  or  ftruck. 

Art.  VIII.  The  confuls  or  vice-confuls  fhall  exercife  police 
over  all  the  veffels  of  their  refpeftive  nations ;  and  Ihall  have 
on  board  the  faid  vefTels,  all  power  and  jurifdiftion  in  civil 
matters  :  in  all  the  difputes  which  may  there  arife,  they  fhall 
have  an  entire  infpeftion  over  the  faid  vefTels,  their  crews,  and 
the  changes  and  fubllitutions  there  to  be  made  :  for  which  pur- 
pofe  they  may  go  on  board  the  faid  vefTels  whenever  they  may 
judge  it  necelTary.  It  being  well  underftood,  that  the  func- 
tions hereby  allowed  fhall  be  confined  to  the  interior  of  the 
VefTels,  and  that  they  fhall  not  take  place  in  any  cafe  which 
fhall  have  any  interference  with  the  police  of  the  ports  where 
the  faid  vefTels  fhall  be. 

Art.  IX.  The  confuls  and  vice-confuls  may  caufe  to  be  ar- 
refted  the  captains,  officers,  mariners,  failors,  and  all  other  per- 
fons,  being  part  of  the  crews  of  the  vefTels  of  their  refpeftive 
nations,  who  fhall  have  deferted  from  the  faid  vefTels,  in  order 
to  fend  them  back  and  tranfport  them  out  of  the  country.  For 
which  purpofe.  the  faid  confuls  and  vice-confuls  fhall  addrefs 
themfelves  to  the  courts,  judges,  and  officers  competent ;  and 
(hall  demand  the  faid  deferters  in  writing,  proving  by  an  exhi- 
bition of  the  regifters  of  the  vefTel  or  fhip's  roll,  that  thofc 
men  were  part  of  the  faid  crews  :  and  on  this  demand  fo  proved, 
(faving,  however,  where  the  contrary  is  proved)  the  delivery 
ftiall  not  be  refufed  :  and  there  fhall  be  given  all  aid  and  affi fi- 
ance to  the  faid  confuls  and  vice-confuls  for  the  fearch,  feizure 
and  arreft  of  the  faid  deferters,  who  fhall  even  be  detained  and 
kept  in  the  prifons  of  the  country,  at  their  requefl  and  expenfe, 
until  they  fhall  have  found  an  opportunity  of  fending  them 
back.  But  if  they  be  not  fent  back  within  three  months,  to  be 
counted  from  the  day  of  their  arreft,  they  fhall  be  fet  at  liberty, 
and  fhall  be  no  more  arrefled  for  the  fame  caufe. 

Art.  X.  In  cafes  where  the  refpeftive  fubjefts  or  citizens  fhall 
have  committed  any  crime,  or  breach  of  the  peace,  they  fhall 
be  amenable  to  the  judges  of  the  country. 

Art.  XI.  When  the  faid  offenders  fhall  be  a  part  of  the  crew 
of  a  velTel  of  their  nation,  and  fhall  have  withdrawn  them- 
felves on  board  the  faid  vefTel,  they  may  be  there  feized  and  ar- 
refled by  order  of  the  judges  of  the  country;  thefe  fhall  give 
notice  thereof  to  the  conful  or  vice-conful,  who  may  repair  on 
board,  if  he  thinks  proper;    but  this   notificatioa   ihail   aot 


4ii  GOI^SANMENT  BETWEEbf 

in  any  cafe,  delay  execution  or  the  order  in  queftibn.  The 
perfons  arreted  fhall  not  afterwards  be  fet  at  liberty,  until  the 
conful  or  vice-conful  fhall  have  been  notified  thereof  i  and  they 
ihall  be  delivered  to  him,  if  he  requires  it,  to  be  put  again  on 
board  of  the  vefTel  in  which  they  were  arrefted,  or  of  others  of 
their  nation,  and  to  be  feat  out  of  the  country. 

Art.  XII.  All  differences  and  fuits  between  the  fubjefts  of 
the  Moft  Chilflian  King  in  the  United  States,  or  between  the 
citizens  of  the  United  States  within  the  donxinions  of  the  Moft 
ChriRian  King,  and  particularly  all  difputes  relative  to  the 
wages  and  terms  of  engagement  of  the  crews  of  the  refpeftive 
veffels,  and  all  differences  of  whatever  nature  they  may  be^ 
\vhich  may  arife  between  the  privates  of  the  faid  crews,  or  be- 
tween any  of  them  and  their  captains,  or  between  the  captains 
of  different  veffels  of  their  nation,  fhall  be  determined  by  the 
refpeftive  coni'uls  and  vice-confuls,  either  by  a  reference  to  ar- 
bitrators, or  by  a  fummary  judgment,  and  without  cofls*  No 
ofHcer  of  the  country,  civil  or  military,  Ihall  interfere  therein, 
or  take  any  part  whatever  in  the  matter ;  and  the  appeals  fromi 
the  faid  Confular  fentences  fhall  be  carried  before  the  tribunals 
of  France,  or  of  the  United  States,  to  whom  it  may  appertain 
to  take  cognisance  thereof. 

Art.  XIII.  The  general  utility  of  commerce  having  caufed  td 
be  eftablifhed,  within  the  dominions  of  the  mod  Chriflian  King, 
particular  tribunals  and  forms  for  expediting  the  decifion  of 
commercial  affairs,  the  merchants  of  the  United  States  fhall  en- 
joy the  benefit  of  thefe  eftablifhments  •,  and  the  Congrefs  of  the 
United  States  will  provide,  in  the  manner  moft  conformable  to 
its  laws,  for  the  eftablifhment  of  equivalent  advantages  in  fa- 
vour of  the  French  merchants,  for  the  prompt  difpatch  and  de- 
cifion of  affairs  of  the  fame  nature. 

XIV.  The  fubjefts  of  the  Moft  Chriftlan  King,  aind  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  who  fhall  prove  by  legal  evidence,  that 
they  are  of  the  laid  nations  refpeclively,  fhall,  in  confequence, 
enjoy  an  exemption  from  all  perfonal  fervice  in  the  place  of 
their  feltlement. 

XV.  If  any  other  nation  acquires,  by  virtue  of  any  con- 
vention whatever,  treatment  more  favourable  with  relpeft  to 
the  confular  pre-eminences,  powers,  authority  and  privileges, 
the  conluls  and  vice-confuls  of  the  Moft  Chnftian  King,  or  of 
the  United  States^  reciprocally  fhall  participate  therein,  agreeably 


FRANCE  AND  AMERICA.  433 

to  the  terms  ftipulated  by  the  fecond,  third  and  fourth  articles 
of  the  treaty  of  Amity  and  Commerce  concluded  between  the 
Moft  Chrirtian  King  and  the  United  States, 

Art.  XVI,  The  prefent  convention  fliall  be  in  full  force  dur- 
ing the  term  of  twelve  years,  to  be  counted  from  the  day  of  the 
exchange  of  ratifications,  which  fhall  be  given  in  proper  form, 
und  exchanged  on  both  fides  within  the  fpace  of  one  year,  or 
fooner  if  polfible.  In  faith  whereof,  we,  minifters  plenipoten- 
tiary, have  ftgned  the  prefent  convention,  and  have  thereto  fet 
the  feal  of  our  arms. 

Done  at  Verfailles   the  fourteenth  of  November,  one 

thoufand  feven  hundred  and  eighty-eight. 
Signed  L.  C.  De  MONTMORIN,  (L.  S.) 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON.  (L.  S.) 

PROCLAMATION. 

And  whereas  the  faid  convention  has  been  duly  ratified  and 
confirmed  by  me  on  the  one  part,  with  the  advice  and  confent 
of  the  fenate,  and  by  his  Moft  Chriftian  Majefty  on  the  other^ 
and  the  faid  ratifications  were  duly  exchanged  at  Paris  on  the 
firft  day  of  January  in  the  prefent  year.  Now,  therefore,  to 
the  end  that  the  faid  convention  may  be  obferved  and  performed 
with  good  faith  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  I  have  ordered 
the  premifes  to  be  made  public,  and  I  do  hereby  enjoin  and  re- 
quire all  perfons  bearing  office,  civil  or  military,  within  the 
United  States,  and  all  others  citizens  or  inhabitants  thereof,  or 
being  within  the  fame,  faithfully  to  obferve  and  fulfil  the  faid 
convention,  and  every  claufc  and  article  thereof. 

In  teftimony  whereof  I  have  caufed  the  feal  of  the  UnitCvX 
States  to  be  affixed  to  thefe  prefcnts,  and  figned  tha 
fame  with  my  hand.  Given  at  the  city  of  New-York, 
the  ninth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thoufand  feven  hundred  and  ninety,  and  of  the  fove- 
rcignty  and  in  ependencc  of  the  United  States  the  four- 
feenth. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 
By  the  Prefident, 

TiioriAs    Jefferson. 


3^ 


(     434     ) 


DEFINITIVE   TREATY 

BETWEEN 

6ilEAT-BRITAIN  AXD  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 

Signed  at  Paris,  September  3,   1783. 

In  the  name  of  the  mojt  holy  and  undivided   Trinity, 

T  having  pleafed  the  Divine  Providence  to  difpofe  the  hearty 
of  the  mod  ferene  and  inofl  potent  prince  George  the  Thircf, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  King  of  Great-Britain,  France  and  Ire- 
land, defender  of  the  faith,  Duke  of  Brunfwick  and  Lunen- 
biugh,  arch-treafurer  and  prince  eleftor  of  the  holy  Roman 
empire,  &c.  and  of  the  United  States  of  America,  to  forget  all 
pad  mi lunder (landings  and  differences,  that  have  unhappily 
interrupted  the  good  correfpondence  and  friendfhip  which 
they  mutually  wifh  to  re  do  re  ;  and  to  eflablilh  fuch  a  beneficial 
and  fatisfaftory  intercourfe  between  the  two  countries,  upon 
the  ground  of  reciprocal  advantages  and  mutual  convenience, 
as  may  promote  and  fecure  to  both  perpetual  peace  and  har- 
mony, and  having,  for  this  defirable  end,  already  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  peace  and  reconciliation,  by  the  provifional  articles 
fioned  at  Paris,  on  the  30ih  of  November,  1782,  by  the  com- 
miiTioners  empowered  on  each  part,  which  articles  were  agreed 
vj  be  inferted  in,  and  to  conftitute  the  treaty  of  peace  propofed 
to  be  concluded  between  the  Crown  of  Great-Britain  and  the 
iaid  ijnilcd  States,  but  wliich  treaty  was  not  to  be  concluded 
until  terms  of  peace  Should  be  agreed  upon  between  Great- 
Britain  and  France,  and  his  Britannic  Majefty  fhould  be  ready 
lb  conclude  fuch  treaty  accordingly ;  and  the  treaty  between 
Great-Britain  and  France  having  fmce  been  concluded,  his 
Britannic  Majefty  and  the  United  States  of  America,  in  order 
to  carry  into  full  efFcft  the  provifional  articles  above  mentioned, 
according  to  the  tenor  thereof,  have  conftituted  and  appointed, 
that  is  to  lay,  his  Britannic  Ivlajeily  on  his  part,  David  Hartley, 


DEFINITIVE    TREATY.  ^35 

Efq,  member  of  the  parliament  of  Great-Britain;  and  the 
faid  United  States  on  their  part,  John  Adams,  Efq.  late  a  com- 
mifiioner  of  the  United  States  of  America,  at  the  court  of 
Verfailles,  late  delegate  in  Congrefs  from  the  State  of  MafTa- 
chufetts,  and  chief  juftice  of  the  faid  State,  and  minifter 
plenipotentiary  of  the  faid  United  States,  to  their  High  Migh- 
tineffes  the  States-General  of  the  United  Netherlands  ;  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Efq.  late  delegate  in  Congrefs  from  the  State  of  Penn- 
fylvania,  prefident  of  the  convention  of  the  faid  State,  and 
minifter  plenipotentiary  from  the  United  States  of  America  at 
the  court  of  Verfailles;  and  John  Jay,  Efq.  late  prefident  of 
Congrefs,  chief  juftice  of  the  State  of  New-York,  and  minifter 
plenipotentiary  from  the  faid  United  States  at  the  court  of 
Madrid  ;  to  be  the  plenipotentiaries  for  concluding  and  figning 
the  prefent  Definitive  Treaty ;  who,  after  having  reciprocally 
communicated  their  refpeftive  full  powers,  have  agreed  upon 
and  confirmed  the  following  articles : 

Article  I.  His  Britannic  Majefty  acknowledges  the  faid  United 
States,  viz.  New-Hampfliire,  Maffachufetts-Bay,  Rhode-Ifland 
and  Providence  plantations,  Connefticut,  New-York,  Ncw-Jer- 
fey,  Pennfylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North-Caro- 
lina, South-Carolina  and  Georgia,  to  be  free,  fovereign  and 
independent  States ;  that  he  treats  with  them  as  fuch,.  and  for 
himfelf,  his  heirs  and  fucceflbrs,  relinquifiies  all  claims  to  the 
government,  propriety,  and  territorial  rights  of  the  fame,  and 
every  part  thereof. 

Art.  n.  And  that  ail  difputes,  which  might  arife  in  future, 
on  the  fubjeft  of  the  boundaries  of  the  faid  United  States,  may 
be  prevented,  it  is  hereby  agreed  and  declared,  that  the  follow- 
ing are  and  ftiall  be  their  boundaries,  viz.  froni  the  north-weft 
angle  of  Nova-Scotia,  viz.  That  angle  which  is  formed  by  a 
line  drawn  due  north  from  the  fource  of  St.  Croix  river  to  the 
highlands,  along  the  faid  highlands,  which  divide  thofe  rivers 
that  empty  thcmfelves  into  the  river  St.  Lawrence  from  thofc 
which  fall  into  the  Atlantic  ocean,  to  the  north  wefternmoft 
head  of  Conne£iicut  river ;  thence  down  along  the  middle 
of  that  river  to  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude ;  from 
thence  by  a  line  due  weft  on  faid  latitude,  until  it  ftrikes  the 
river  Iroquois  or  Cataraquy  ;  thence  along  the  middle  of  the 
faid  river  into  lake  Ontario  ;  through  the  middle  of  faid  lake 
until  it  ftrikes  the  communication  by  water  between  that  luk- 
and  lake  Erie  ;  thence  along  the  middle  of  faid  communication 
into  lake  Erie  ;  through  the  middle   of  faid  lake  until    it  arrives 

0,  K  2 


436         DEFINITIVE  TREATY  BETWEEN 

at  the  water  communication  between  that  lake  and  lake  Huron  ; 
thence  along  the  middle  of  faid  water  communication  ;  thence 
through  the  middle  of  faid  lake  to  the  water  communication  be- 
tween that  lake  and  lake  Superior  •,  thence  through  lake  Superior 
northward  of  the  ifles  Royal  and  PhilipeauK  to  the  Long  lake  ; 
4hence  through  the  middle  of  faid  Long  lake  and  the  water  com- 
munication between  it  and  the  lake  of  the  Woods,  to  the  faid 
lake  of  the  Woods ;  thence  through  the  faid  lake  to  the  moft 
north-weftern  point  thereof,  and  from  thence  in  a  due  weft 
courfe  to  the  riv^er  MilTiiTippi;  thence  by  a  line  to  be  drawn 
along  the  middle  of  the  faid  river  Mifliffippi  until  it  fhall  in- 
terleft  the  northernmoft  part  of  the  thirty-firft  degree  of  north 
latitude.  South,  by  a  line  to  be  drawn  due  eaft  from  the 
determination  of  the  line  laft  mentioned  in  the  latitude  of 
thirty-one  degrees  north  of  the  equator,  to  the  middle  of  the 
river  Apalachicola  or  Catahouche  ;  thence  along  the  middle 
thereof,  to  its  junction  with  the  Flint  river  ;  thence  ftrait  to 
the  head  of  St.  Mary's  river;  and  thence  down  along  the  mid- 
dle of  St.  Mary's  river  to  the  Atlantic  ocean.  Eaft,  by  a  line  to 
be  drawn  along  the  middle  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  from  its 
mouth  in  the  bay  of  Fundy,  to  its  fource,  and  from  its  fource 
direftly  north  to  the  aforefaid  highlands,  which  divide  the 
•rivers  that  fall  into  the  Atlantic  ocean,  from  thofe  which  fall 
■into  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  comprehending  all  iflands  within 
twenty  lengiies  of  any  part  of  the  fnorts  of  the  United  States^ 
and  lying  between  lines  to  be  drawn  d  jc  eaft  from  the  points 
where  the  aforeiaid  boundaries  between  Nova- Scotia  on  the  one 
part,  and  Eaft-Florida  on  the  other,  fhall  refpeftively  touch  the 
bay  of  Fundy,  and  the  Atlantic  ocean,  excepting  fuch  iflands  an 
now  are,  or  heretofore  have  been,  within  the  limits  of  the  feid 
province  of  Nova-Scotia. 

Art.  III.  It  is  agreed,  that  the  people  of  the  United  States 
rnall  continue  to  enjoy,  unmolefted,  the  right  to  take  fifh  of 
every  kind  on  the  Grand  Bank,  and  on  all  the  other  banks  of 
Newfoundland,  alfo  in  the  gulph  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  at  all 
other  places  in  the  fea,  where  the  inhabitants  of  both  countries 
uffd  at  any  time  heretofore  to  fifh.  And  alio,  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  United  States  fhall  have  liberty  to  take  fifh  of  every 
kind  on  fuch  part  of  the  coaftof  Nev^rfoundland,  as  Britifli  fifh- 
ermen  fhall  ule  (but  not  to  dry  or  cure  the  (ame  on  that  ifland) 
and  alfo  on  the  coafts,  bays  and  creeks,  of  all  other  of  his 
Britannic  Msjcfty's  dominions  in  America  ;  and  that  the  Ame- 
rican fifhermen  fliall  have  liberty  to  dry  and  cure  fifh  in  any 
of    the    unfettled   bays,    harbours    and    creeks,  of    Nova-Scotia, 


GREAT-BRITAIN  AND  AMERICA.         437 

Magdalen  iflands,  and  Labrador,  fo  long  as  the  fame  {hall  remain 
unfettled ;  but  fo  foon  as  the  fame  or  either  of  them  fhall  be  fet- 
tled, it  fhall  not  be  lawful  for  the  faid  filhermen  to  dry  or  cure 
fifh  at  fuch  fettlcrnent,  without  a  previous  agreement  for  that 
purpofe  with  the  inhabitants,  proprietors,  or  poflclfors  of  the 
ground. 

Art.  IV.  It  is  agreed,  that  the  creditois  on  either  fide  fhall 
meet  with  no  lawful  impediment  to  the  recovery  of  the  full 
value,  in  (lerling  money,  of  all  bona  fide  debts  heielofore  con- 
tra6led. 

Art.  V.  It  is  agreed,  that  Congrefs  (hall  earneflly  recommend 
it  to  the  Icgiflatures  of  the  refpcftive  States,  to  pfivide  for  the 
reftitution  of  all  eftates,  rights  and  properties,  which  have  been 
confifcated,  belonging  to  real  Biitifh  fubjefts ;  and  alfo  of  the 
eftates,  rights  and  properties,  of  perfons  refident  in  diftrifts  in 
poffeirion  of  his  Majefty's  arms,  and  who  have  not  borne  arm.s 
againft  the  faid  United  States  ;  and  that  perfons  of  any  other  de- 
fcription  (hall  have  free  liberty  to  go  to  any  part  or  parts  of  the 
Thirteen  United  States,  and  therein  to  remain  twelve  months 
unmolefted,  in  their  endeavours  to  obtain  the  reftitution  of  fuch 
of  their  eftates,  rights  and  properties,  as  may  have  been  confif- 
cated ;  and  that  Congrefs  fhall  alfo  earneftly  recommend  to  the 
feveral  States,  a  re-confideration  and  revifion  of  all  afts  or  laws 
refpefting  the  premifes,  fo  as  to  render  the  faid  afts  or  laws  per- 
fectly confiftent,  not  only  with  juftice  and  equity,  but  with  that 
fpirit  of  conciliation,  which,  on  the  return  of  the  bleflings  of 
peace,  ftiould  univerfally  prevail  :  and  that  Congrefs  fhall  alfo 
earneftly  recommend  to  the  feveral  States,  that  the  eftates,  rights 
and  properties,  of  fuch  laft-mentioned  perlons,  fhall  be  reftored 
to  them,  they  refunding  to  any  perfons  who  !nay  now  be  in  pol- 
feftion,  the  bona  fide  price  (where  any  has  been  given)  which 
fuch  perfons  may  have  paid,  on  purchrifing  any  of  the  faid  lands, 
rights  or  properties,  fince  the  confifcation.  And  it  is  agreed, 
that  all  perfons,  who  may  have  any  intereft  in  confifcated  lands, 
either  by  debts,  marriage  fettlcments,  or  otherwife,  fhall  meet 
with  no  lawful  impediment  in  the  profecution  of  their  juft 
rights. 

Art.  VI.  That  there  fhall  be  no  future  confifcations  made,  nor 
any  profecutions  commenced,  againft  any  perlon  or  perfor.s,  for, 
or  by  reafon  of  the  part  which  he  or  they  may  have  taken  ia 
ihe  prefent  war  :  and  that  no  perfon  fhall,  on  that  account,  fufrer 
any  further  lofs  or  damage,  either  in  his  perfon,  liberty  or  pro- 
perty :  and  that  thofe  who  may  be  in  confinement  on  fuch  charges, 
at  the  time  of  the  ratification  of  the   treaty  in  America,    fhall  be 


4SS  DEFINITIVE   TREATY,  Gc, 

immediately  fet  at  liberty,  and  the  profecution,  fo  commenced} 
be  difcontinued. 

Art.  VII.  There  fliall  be  a  firm  and  perpetual  peace  between 
his  Britannic^  Majefty  and  the  faid  States,  and  between  the  fub- 
jefts  of  tlie  one  and  the  citizens  of  the  other  ;  wherefore  all 
hoftilities,  both  by  fea  and  land,  fhall  from  henceforth  ceafc ;  a}l 
prifoners  on  both  fides  fliall  be  fet  at  liberty  ;  and  his  Britannic 
Majcfty  fliall,  with  sill  convenient  fpeed,  and  without  caufmg 
any  deftruftion,  or  carrying  away  any  negroes,  or  other  property 
of  the  American  inhabitants,  withdraw  all  his  armies,  garrifons 
and  fleets,  from  the  faid  United  States,  and  frorn  every  pofl:, 
place  and  harbour,  within  the  fame,  leaving  in  all  fortificatiorjs 
the  American  artillery  that  may  be  therein  ;  and  (hall  alfo  order 
and  caufc  all  archives,  records,  deeds  and  papers,  belonging  to 
any  of  the  faid  States,  or  their  citizens,  which,  in  the  courfc  of 
the  war,  may  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  his  officers,  to  be 
forthwith  reflored,  and  delivered  to  the  proper  States  and  pcr- 
fons  to  whom  they  belong. 

Art.  VIII.  The  navigation  of  the  river  Mijfijfippi,  from  its 
Jourcc  to  the  ocean,  Jhallfor  ever  remain  free  and  open  to  the  fub" 
je6ls  of  Great-Britain  and  the  citizens  of  the  Urdted  States. 

Art.  IX.  In  cafe  it  fhould  fp  happen,  that  any  place  or  terri- 
tory belonging  to  Great-Britain,  or  to  the  United  States,  fhould 
have  been  conquered  by  the  arms  of  either  from  the  other,  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  faid  provifional  articles  in  America,  it  is 
agreed,  that  the  fame  fhall  be  reflored  without  difficulty,  and 
without  requiring  corr.penfation. 

Art.  X.  The  folemn  ratifications  of  the  prefent  treat}',  expe- 
dited in  good  and  due  form,  fhall  be  exchanged  between  the  con- 
tracting parties  in  the  fpace  of  fix  months,  or  fooner,  if  poffiblc. 
to  be  computed  from  the  day  of  the  fignature  of  the  prefent 
treat)'.  In  witnefs  whereof,  we  the  underfigned,  their  miniflers 
plenipotentiary,  have,  in  their  name,  and  in  virtue  of  our  full 
powers,  figned  with  our  hands  the  prefent  Definitive  Treaty, 
and  caufed  the  feals  of  our  arras  to  be  affixed  thereto.  Done  at 
Paris,  September  3,  1783. 

(L.  S.)  JOHN  ADAMS, 

■     (L.  S.)  DAVID  HARTLEY, 

(L.  S.)  B.  FRANKLIN, 

(L.  S.)  JOHN  JAY. 


439    ) 


TREATY 


oi 


AMITY  AND  COMMERCE 


BETWEEN 


THEIR  HIGH  MIGHTINESSES  THE  STATES  GENERAL  OF  THE 

UNITED  NETHERLANDS,  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF 

AMERICA. 

(to  wit) 

SeW-HAMPSHIRE,  MASSACHUSETTS,  R  I|  ODE-ISLAND  AND  PRO- 
VIDENCE PLANTATIONS,  CONNECTICUT,  NEW-YORK,  NEW- 
JERSEY,  PENNSYLVANIA,  DELAWARE,  MARYLAND,  VIRGINIA, 
NORTH-CAROLINA,    SOUTH-CAROLINA,    AND     GEORGIA. 

T 

X  HEIR  High  Mightineffes  the  States-General  of  the  United 
Netherlands,  and  the  United  States  of  America,  to  wit,  New- 
Hampftiire,  Maffachufetts,  Rhode- Ifland  and  Providence  planta- 
tions, Conneaicut,  New- York,  New-Jerfey,  Pennfylvania,  De- 
lav^are,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North-Carolina,  South-Carolina, 
and  Georgia,  deftring  to  afcertain,  in  a  permanent  and  equitable 
manner,  the  rules  to  be  obferved  relative  to  the  commerce  and  cor- 
i-efpondence  which  they  intend  to  eflabliHi  between  their  refpec- 
tive  States,  countries  and  inhabitants,  have  judged,  that  the  faid  end 
cannot  be  better  obtained,  than  by  efhblifliing  the  moft  perfeft 
cquahty  and  reciprocity  for  the  bafis  of  their  agreement,  and  by 
avoiding  all  thofe  burthenfome  preferences,  which  are  ufually 
the  fources  of  debate,  embarraffment  and  difcontent ;  by  leaving 
alfo  each  party  at  liberty  to  make,  refpeaing  commerce  and  na- 
vigation, fuch  ulterior  regulations,  as  it  fliall  find  moft  conve- 
nient  to  itfelf ;  and  by  founding  the  advantages  of  commerce 
folely  upon  reciprocal  utility,  and  the  juft  rules  of  free  inter- 
courle  ;  referving  withal  to  each  party  the  liberty  of  admitting 
at  Its  pleafure,  other  nations  to  a  participation  of  the  lame  ad-' 
vantages. 


44©  T  R  E  A  T  Y   OF 

On  thele  principles,  their  fiiid  High  MightinefTes  the  States- 
General  of  the  United  Netherlands  have  named  for  their  pleni- 
potentiaries, from  the  midft  of  their  aiTembly,  McHieurs  their 
deputies  for  the  foreign  affairs  ;  and  the  faid  Uiuted  States  of 
America,  on  their  part,  have  furnifhcd  with  full  powers  Mt, 
John  Adams,  late  commiffioner  of  the  United  States  of  Ame- 
rica at  the  court  of  Veriailles,  heretofore  delegate  in  Congrefs 
from  the  State  of  MaflTachufetts  bay,  and  chief  juftice  of  the 
faid  State,  who  have  agreed  and  concluded  as  follows :  to  wit. 

Article  I.  There  fhall  be  a  firm  inviolable  and  univerfal  peace, 
and  fincere  frienddiip,  between  their  High  MightinefTes  the 
Lords  the  States-General  of  the  United  Netherlands  and  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  between  the  fubjefts  and  inhabi- 
tants of  the  faid  parties,  and  between  the  countries,  iflands,  ci- 
ties and  places,  fituated  under  the  jurildi6lion  of  the  faid  United 
Netherlands  and  the  faid  United  States  of  America,  their  fubjefts 
and  inhabitants  of  every  degree,  without  exception  of  perfons 
or  places. 

Art.  n.  The  fubj^fts  of  the  faid  States-General  of  the  United 
Netherlands  fliall  pay  in  the  ports,  havens,  roads,  countries, 
iflands,  cities  or  places  of  the  United  States  of  America,  or  any 
of  them,  no  other  nor  greater  duties  or  imports,  of  whatever 
nature  or  denomination  they  may  be,  than  thofe  which  the  na- 
tions the  mod  favoured  are  or  fhall  be  obliged  to  pay  ;  and  they 
fhall  enjoy  all  the  rights,  liberties,  privileges,  immunities  and 
exemptions  in  trade,  navigation  and  commerce,  which  the  faid 
nations  do,  or  fli-dl  enjoy,  whether  in  paffing  from  one  port  to 
another  in  the  faid  States,  or  in  going  from  any  of  thofe  ports 
to  any  foreign  port  of  the  world,  or  from  any  foreign  port  of 
the  world  to  any  of  thofe  ports. 

Art.  ni.  The  fubjcfts  and  inhabitants  of  the  faid  United 
States  of  America  fhall  pay  in  the  ports,  havens,  roads,  coun- 
tries, iflands,  cities  or  places,  of  the  faid  United  Netherlands, 
or  any  of  them,  no  other,  nor  greater  duties  or  impofts,  of  what- 
ever nature  or  denomination  they  may  be,  than  thofe  which  the 
nations  the  nioft  favoured  are  or  fhall  be  obliged  to  pay  ;  and 
they  fl-iall  enjoy  all  the  rights,  liberties,  privileges,  immunities 
and  exemptions  in  trade,  navigation  and  commerce,  which  the 
faid  nations  do,  or  fhall  enjoy,  whether  in  paffing  from  one  port 
to  another  in  the  faid  States,  or  from  any  one  towards  any 
one  of  thole  ports,  from  or  to  any  foreign  port  of  the  world. 
And  the  United  States  of  America,  with  their  fubjefts  and  in- 
habitants, ihall  leave  to   thofe   of  their   High  MightinefTes,  the 


'AMITY  AN3  COMMERCE,         ^       l^^ 

j^eaceable  enjoyment  of  their  rights  in  the  countries,  ifiand^ 
.and  feas,  in  the  Eaft  and  Weft  Indies,  without  any  hindrance 
or  moleftation. 

Art.  IV.  There  fhall  be  an  entire  and  perfeA  liberty  of  con* 
fcience  allowed  to  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  of  each  party, 
and  to  their  families  :  and  no  one  fhall  be  molelled  in  regard  to 
iiis  worfhip,  provided  he  lubmits,  as  to  the  public  demon ftra» 
tion  of  it,  to  the  laws  of  the  country.  There  fhall  be  given 
moreover  liberty,  when  any  fubjefts  or  inhabitants  of  either 
party  fhall  die  in  the  territory  of  the  other,  to  bury  them  ia 
.the  ufual  burying  places,  or  in  decent  and  convenient  grounds, 
to  be  appointed  for  that  purpofe,  as  occafion  (hall  require. 
And  the  dead  bodies  of  thofe  who  are  buried  fhall  not  in  any 
wife  be  molefted  ;  and  the  two  contra£ting  parties  fliall  provide, 
each  one  in  his  jurifdiftion,  that  their  refpeftive  fubjefts  and 
inhabitants  may  henceforward  obtain  the  requifite  certificates, 
i^  cafes  of  deaths,  in  which  they  fhall  be  interefted^ 

Art.  V.  Their  High  Mightineffes  the  States-General  of  the 
United  Netherlands,  and  the  United  States  of  America,  fhall 
endeavour,  by  all  the  means  in  their  power,  to  defend  and  pro- 
tc£l  all  veffels  and  ether  efFefts  belonging  to  their  fubjefts  and 
inhabitants  refpeQ:iveIy,  or  to  any  of  them,  in  their  ports, 
roads,  havens,  internal  feas,  pafTes,  rivers,  and  as  far  as  their 
jurifdi£lion  extends  at  fea  ;  and  to  recover,  and  caufe  to  be 
reflored  to  the  true  proprietors,  their  agents  or  attornies,  all 
fuch  veffels  and  efFefts  which  fiiall  be  taken  under  their  jurif- 
di6lion  :  and  their  veffels  of  war  and  convoys,  in  cafes  when 
jhey  may  have  a  common  enem)'-,  fhall  take  under  their  protec- 
tion all  the  veffels  belonging  to  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  of 
either  party,  which  fhall  not  be  laden  with  contraband  goods, 
according  to  the  defcription  which  {hall  be  made  of  them  here- 
after, for  places  with  which  one  of  the  parties  is  in  peace,  and 
the  other  at  war,  nor  deftined  for  any  place  blocked,  and 
which  (hall  hold  the  fame  courfe,  or  follow  the  fame  route : 
and  they  {hall  defend  fuch  veffels,  as  long  as  they  {hall  hold  the 
fame  courfe,  or  follow  the  fame  route,  again{l  all  attacks,  force 
and  violence  of  the  common  enemy,  in  the  fame  manner  as  thc;/ 
ought  to  proteft  anJ  defend  the  veffels  belonging  to  their  own 
refpeftivc  fubjefts. 

Art.  VI.  The  fubjefts  of  the  contrafting  parties  may,  on  one 
fide  and  on  the  other,  in  the  refpeftive  countries  and  States, 
difpofe  of  their  effefts  by  teflament,  donation  or  otherwife  ;  and 
t]aeir  heirs,  fubjefts  of  one   of  the   parties,  and  refiding  in  the 


4.ia  TREATY  OF 

country  of  the  other,  or  elfewhere,  fhall  receive  fuch  fuc- 
ceffions,  even  ab  inteflate,  whether  in  perfon,  or  by  their 
attorney  or  fubftitute,  even  although  they  fhall  not  have  ob- 
tained letters  of  naturalization,  Mrithout  having  the  effeft  of  fuch 
connnijfion  contefted  under  pretext  of  any  rights  or  prerogatives  of 
any  province,  city  or  private  perfon  :  and  if  the  heirs  to  whom 
fuch  fuccefficns  may  have  fallen,  fhall  be  minors,  the  tutor?^ 
or  curators,  eflablifhed  by  the  judge  domiciliary,  of  the  faid 
minors,  may  govern,  direft,  adminifter,  fell,  and  alienate  the 
tffefts  fallen  to  the  faid  minors  by  inheritance  ;  and  in  general, 
in  relation  to  the  faid  fuccefTions  and  effrfts,  ufe  all  the  rights 
and  fulfil  all  the  funftions  whicli  belong,  by  the  difpofition  of 
the  laws,  to  guardians,  tutors  and  curators;  provided,  ncve- 
thelefs,  that  this  difpofition  cannot  take  place,  but  in  cafes 
where  the  teflator  fhall  not  have  named  guardians,  tutors,  cura- 
tors by  teftament,  codicil  or  other  legal  inftrument. 

Art.  VII.  It  fliall  be  lawful  and  free  for  the  fubjefts  of  each 
party  to  employ  fuch  advocates,  attornies,  notaries,  folicitors  or 
faftors,  as  they  fhall  judge  proper. 

Art.  VIII  Merchants,  maflers  and  ovfntr%  of  fhips,  mariners, 
men  of  all  kinds,  fhips  and  veffels,  and  all  merchandifes  and 
goods  in  general,  and  efFefts,  of  any  of  the  confederates,  or 
of  the  fubjefts  theieof,  fliall  not  be  feifed  or  detained  in  any 
of  the  countries,  lands,  iflands,  cities,  places,  ports,  fhores  or 
dominions  whatfoever  of  the  other  confederate,  for  any  military 
expedition,  public  or  private  ufe  of  any  one,  by  arrefls,  vio- 
lamce,  or  any  colour  thereof;  much  lefs  fhall  it  be  permitted 
to  the  fubjefts  of  either  party  to  take,  or  extort  by  force, 
anv  thing  from  the  fubjefts  of  the  other  party,  Avithout  the 
confent  of  the  owner  ;  which,  however,  is  not  to  be  underflood 
of  feifures,  detentions  and  arrefls,  which  fhall  be  made  by  the 
command  and  authority  of  juflice,  and  by  the  ordinary  methods, 
on  account  of  debts  or  crimes,  in  refpeft  whereof  the  pro- 
ceedings mufl  be  by  way  of  law,  according  to  the  forms  of 
juftice. 

Art.  IX.  It  is  further  agreed  and  concluded,  that  it  fhall 
be  wholly  free  for  all  merchants,  commanders  of  fhips,  and 
other  fubjefts  ?«1  inhabitants  of  the  contrafting  parties,  in 
every  place  fubjctled  to  the  jurifdiftion  of  the  two  powers  re- 
fpe6tivc!y,  to  manage,  themfelvcs,  their  own  buftnefs :  and 
rr.oieover,  as  to  the  uie  of  interpreters  or  brokers,  asalfo  in  rela- 
tion to  the  loading  or  unloading  of  their  velfels,  and  every  thing 
•which  has  relation  thereto,  they  fhall  be,  on  one  fide  and  on 
the  other,  confidcred   and   treated  upon   the   fcotirig  of  natural 


AMiTY  AND  COMMERCE.  443 

iubje£ls,  or,  at  leaft,  upon  aa  equality  with  the  mofl  favoured 
nation. 

Art.  X.  The  merchant  fhips  of  either  of  the  parties,  com- 
ing from  the  port  of  an  enemy,  or  from  their  own,  or  a  neutral 
port,  may  navigate  freely  towards  any  port  of  an  enemy  of  the 
other  ally.  They  fhall  neverthclefs  be  held,  whenever  it  (hall 
be  required,  to  exhibit,  as  well  upon  the  high  feas  as  in  the 
ports,  their  fea-letters  and  other  documents  defcnbed  in  the 
twenty-fifth  article,  dating  exprefsly  that  their  effefts  are  not 
of  the  number  of  thofe  which  are  prohibited  as  contraband* 
And  not  having  any  contraband  goods  for  an  enemy's  port,  they 
may  freely  and  without  hindrance  purfue  their  voyage  towards 
the  port  of  an  enemy.  Nevertheleis,  it  fhall  not  be  required 
to  examine  the  papers  of  veiTsls  convoyed  by  velTels  of  war 
but  credence  fhall  be  given  to  the  word  of  the  officer  who  fhall 
condu£l  the  convoy. 

Art.  XL  If  by  exhibiting  the  fea-letters  and  other  docu- 
ments defcribed  more  particularly  in  the  twenty- fifth  article  of 
this  treaty^  the  other  party  fhall  difcover  there  are  any  of  thofe 
forts  of  goods  which  are  declared  prohibited  and  contraband, 
and  that  they  are  configned  for  a  port  under  the  obedience  of 
his  enemy  :  it  fhall  not  be  lawful  to  break  up  the  hatches  of 
fuch  ihip,  nor  to  open  any  cheft,  coffer,  packs,  cafks,  or  other 
Veffels  found  therein,  or  to  remove  the  fmalleft  parcel  of  her 
goods,  whether  the  laid  veffel  belongs  to  the  fubjefts  of  their 
High  MightinefTes  the  States-General  of  the  United  Nether- 
lands, or  to  the  fubjefts  or  inhabitants  of  the  faid  United  States 
of  America,  unlefs  the  lading  be  brought  on  fliore  in  prefence 
of  the  officers  of  the  court  of  admiralty,  and  an  inventory 
thereof  made :  but  there  fhall  be  no  allowance  to  fell,  exchange 
or  alienate  the  fame,  until  after  that  due  and  lawful  procefs 
ilaall  have  been  had  againfl  fuch  prohibited  goods  of  contraband, 
and  the  court  of  admiralty,  by  a  fentence  pronounced,  fliall 
have  conhfcated  the  fair.e  ;  faving  always  as  well  the  fliip  itfelf, 
as  any  other  goods  found  therein,  which  are  to  be  efleemed 
free,  and  may  not  be  detained  on  pretence  of  their  being  in- 
fected by  the  prohibited  goods,  much  lefs  fliall  they  be  con- 
fifcated  as  lawful  prize  :  but  on  the  contrary,  when,  by  the 
vifttation  at  land,  it  fhall  be  found,  that  there  are  no  contia- 
band  goods  in  the  veflel,  and  it  fliall  net  appear  by  the  papers, 
that  he  who  has  taken  and  carried  in  the  veffel  has  been  able 
to  difcover  any  there,  he  ought  to  be  condemned  in  all  the 
chargeSj  damages,  and   interelb  of  them,   which  he  fhall  hav« 

3  L   z 


4^4  'i'  ^^  E  A  TY  0  F 

caufed,  both  to  the  owners  of  veffels,  and  to  the  owners  ahcf 
freighters  of  cargoes  with  which  they  fhall  be  loaded,  by  his 
ijemerity  in  taking  and  carrying  them  in  :  declaring  moft  cx- 
prelsly  the  free  veffels  fhall  affure  the  liberty  of  the  effefts  with 
which  they  fliall  be  loaded,  and  that  this  liberty  fhall  extend 
itfelf  equally  to  tbx  perfons  who  fhall  be  found  in  a  free  veffel, 
■who  may  not  be  taken  out  of  her,  unlefs  they  are  military  men, 
aftualiy  in  the  fervice  of  an  enemy. 

Art.  XII.  On.  the  contrary,  it  is  agreed,  that  whatever 
ihall  be  found  to  be  laden  by  the  fubjefls  and  inhabitants  of 
either  party,  on  any  fhip  belonging  to  the  enietnies  of  the  other, 
or  to  their  lubjefts,  although  it  be  not  comprehended  uxider 
the  fore  of  prohibited  goods,  the  whole  may  be  confilcated  in 
the  fame  manner  as  if  it  belonged  to  the  enemy  ;  except, 
neverthelefs,  fueh  effeft's  and  merchandifes  as  were  put  on  board 
fuch  vellel  before  the  declaration  of  war,  or  in  the  fpace  of 
£x  months  after  it ;'  which  efFefts  fhall  not  be  in  any  manner 
fubjeft  to  conHfcation,  but  fhall  be  faithfully  and  without 
delay  rcftorcd  in  nature  to  the  owners,  who  fhall  claim  them, 
or  caufe  tbern  to  be  claimed,  before  the  coniifcation  and  fale  i 
as  alfo  their  proceeds,  if  the  claim  could  not  be  made  but  in 
the  ipace  of  eight  months  after  the  fale,  which  ought  to  be 
|)ublic  :  provided,  neverthelefs,  that  if  the  faid  nierchandifes 
are  contraband,  it  fhall  by  no  means  be  lawful  to  tranfport  them 
afterwards  to  any  port  belonging  to  enemies. 

Art.  XIII.  And  that  more  elfeftual  care  may  be  taken  for 
the  f'ecurity  of  fubjefts  and  people  of  either  party,  that  they  do 
not  iuffer  moleflation  from  the  veffels  of  war,  or  privateers  of 
the  other  party,  it  fliali  be  forbidden  to  all  commanders  of  vef- 
fels of  Avar,  and  other  armed  veffels  of  the  faid  States-General 
of  tlie  United  Netherlands,  and  the  faid  United  States  of 
America,  as  well  as  to  all  their  officers,  fubjefts  and  people,  to 
give  any  offence,  or  do  any  damage  to  thofe  of  the  other  party  ; 
and  if  they  ai;l  to  the  contrary,  they  fliall  be,  upon  the  firfl 
complaints  which  fhall  be  made  of  it,  being  found  guilty,  after 
a  juft  examination,  puniflicd  by  their  proper  judges  :  and  more- 
over, obliged  to  make  ialisfuftion  for  all  damages  and  interell 
thereof,  by  reparation,  under  pain  and  obligation  of  their  per- 
fons and  goods. 

Art.  XIV.  For  further  determining  of  what  has  been  faid, 
all  captains  of  privateers,  or  fitters  out  of  veffels  armed  for 
war,  under  commiffion,  and  on  account  of  private  perfons, 
fliall  be  held  before   their  departure,  to  give  fufficient   caution 


AM  ITS  AND  COMMERCE,  445 

before  competent  judges,  either  to  be  entirely  refponfible  for  the 
Jfnalverfations  which  they  may  cormnit  in  their  cruizes  or  voyi 
ages,  as  well  as  for  the  contraventions  of  their  captains  and 
officers  againft  the  prefent  treaty,  and  againfl  the  ordinances 
and  edifts  which  ihall  be  publiflied  in  confequence  of,  and  in 
Conformity  to  it,  under  pain  of  forfeiture  and  nullity  of  the 
faid  commifTjons. 

Art.  XV.  All  veffels  and  merchandifes,  of  whatfoever  na- 
ture, which  ftiall  be  refcued  out:  of  the  hands  of  any  pirates  ot 
robbers,  navigating  the  high  feas  without  requifite  commiffions, 
fhall  be  brought  into  fome  port  of  one  of  the  two  States,  and 
depofited  in  the  hands  of  the  officers  of  that  port,  la  order  to 
be  reflored  entire  to  the  true  proprietor,  as  foon  as  due  and  fuf- 
ficient  proofs  fhall  be  made  concerning  the  property  thereof.' 

Art.  XVI.  If  any  fhips  or  vefTels,  belonging  to  either  of  the 
parties,  their  fubjefts  or  people,  fhall,  within  the  coafls  or  do- 
minions of  the  other,  flick  upon  the  fands,  or  be  wrecked,  or 
fuffer  any  other  fea  damage,  all  friendly  affiflance  and  relief 
fhall  be  given  to  the  perfons  fhipwrecked,  or  fuch  as  (hall  be 
in  danger  thereof ;  and  the  vefTels,  effefts  and  merchandifes.  or 
the  part  of  them  which  fhall  have  been  faved,  or  the  proceeds 
of  them,  if,  being  perifhable,  they  fhall  have  been  fold,  being 
claimed  within  a  year  and  a  day  by  the  mafters  or  owners,  or 
their  agents  or  attornies,  fhall  be  reftored,  paying  only  the  rea- 
fonable  charges,  and  that  which  mull  be  paid  in  the  fame  cafe 
for  the  falvage  by  the  proper  fubjefts  of  the  country.  There 
fhall  alfo  be  delivered  them  fafe-condu6ls  or  palfports  for  their 
free  and  fafe  paffage  from  thence,  and  to  return  each  one  to  his 
own  country. 

Art.  XVII.  In  cafe  the  fubjefts  or  people  of  either  party, 
with  their  fhipping,  whether  public  and  of  war,  or  private  and 
of  merchants,  be  forced  through  fljefs  of  weather,  purfuit  of 
pirates  or  enemies,  or  any  other  urgent  neceffity  for  feeking  of 
Ihelter  and  harbour,  to  retreat  and  enter  into  any  of  the  rivers, 
creeks,  bays,  ports,  roads  or  fhores,  belonging  to  the  other  party, 
they  fhall  be  received  with  all  humanity  and  kindnefs,  and  en- 
joy all  friendly  proteftion  and  help ;  and  they  fhall  be  permit- 
ted to  refrefh  and  provide  themfelves  at  reafonable  rates  with 
viftuals,  and  all  things  needful  for  the  fuftcnance  of  their  per- 
fons, or  reparation  of  their  fhips  ;  and  they  fhall  no  ways  be 
detained  or  hindered  from  returning  out  of  the  faid  ports  or 
roads,  but  may  remove  and  depart,  when  and  whither  they 
pleafe,  without  any  lett  or  hindrance. 


445  fRi:  ATY   0  ^ 

Art.  XVIII.  For  the  better  promoting  of  commerce  on  bbtH 
fides,  it  is  agreed,  that  if  a  war  fhould  break  out  between  theii- 
High  Mightincffes  the  States-General  of  the  United  Nether- 
lands and  the  United  States  of  America,  there  fhall  always  bi 
granted  to  the  fubjefts  on  each  fide,  the  term  of  nine  months, 
after  the  date  of  the  rupturCj  or  the  proclamation  of  war,  to 
the  end  that  they  may  retire  with  their  efFefls,  and  tranfport 
them  where  they  pleafe ;  which  it  fhall  be  lawful  for  them  to 
do,  as  well  as  to  fell  or  tranfport  their  efi^efts  and  goods  in  all 
freedom,  and  without  any  hindrance,  and  without  being  able  to 
proceed,  during  the  faid  term  of  nine  months,  to  any  arreft  of 
their  cfFefts,  much  Icfs  of  their  perfons  ;  on  the  contrary,  there 
fhall  be  given  them,  for  their  veffels  and  their  effcfts  which 
they  would  carry  away,  paffports  and  fafe-condufts  for  the  nearefl 
ports  of  their  refpeftive  countries,  and  for  the  time  neceffary 
for  the  voyage.  And  no  prize,  made  at  fea,  ftiall  be  adjudged 
lawful,  at  leaft,  if  the  declaration  of  war  was  not,  or  could  not 
be  known  in  the  laft  port  which  the  vefTel  taken  has  quitted, 
.But  for  whatever  may  have  been  taken  from  the  fubjefts  and 
inhabitants  of  either  party,  and  for  the  offences  which  may 
have  been  given  them  in  the  interval  of  the  laid  terms,  a  com- 
plete fatisfaftion  fliall  be  given  them. 

Art.  XIX.  No  fubjeft  of  their  High  MightincfTes  the  States- 
General  of  the  United  Netherlands  fliall  apply  for,  or  take  any 
commifTion,  or  letters  of  marque,  for  arming  anv  fhip  or  fhips 
to  aft  as  privateers  againft  the  faid  United  States  of  America,  or 
any  of  them,  or  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  of  the  faid  United 
States,  or  any  of  them,  or  againft  the  property  of  the  inhabi-* 
tants  of  any  of  them,  from  any  prince  or  flate  with  which  the 
faid  United  States  of  America  may  happen  to  be  at  war  :  nor 
fliall  any  fubjeft  or  inhabitant  of  the  faid  United  States  of  Ame- 
rica, or  any  of  them,  apply  for,  or  take  any  commilTion,  or 
letters  of  marque,  for  arming  any  fhip  or  fhips,  to  aft  as  priva- 
teers againfl  the  High  and  Mighty  Lords  the  States-General  of 
the  United  Netherlands,  or  againft  the  fubjefts  of  their  High 
MightinelTes.  or  any  of  them,  or  againfl  the  property  of  any 
one  of  them,  from  any  prince  or  flate  with  which  their  High 
MightineiTes  may  be  at  war.  And  if  any  perfon  of  either  na- 
tion fliall  take  fuch  commiffion,  or  letters  of  marque,  he  fhall 
be  punifhed  as  a  pirate. 

Art.  XX.  If  the  veffels  of  the  fubjefts  or  inhabitants  of  one 
of  the  parties  Cvome  upon  any  coaft  belonging  to  either  of  the 
faid  allies,  but  not  wiliing  to  enter  into  port,  or  being   entered 


AMITY  AND  COMMERCE.  447 

into  port,  and  not  willing  to  unload  their  cargoes,  or  break 
bulk,  or  take  in  any  cargo,  they  fliall  not  be  obliged  to  pay, 
neither  for  the  veffels,  nor  the  cargoes,  any  duties  of  entry  in 
or  out,  nor  to  render  any  account  of  their  cargoes,  at  lead  if 
there  is  not  juft  caufe  to  prelume,  that  they  carry  to  an  enemy 
merchandifes  of  contraband. 

Art.  XXI.  The  two  contra£ling  parties  grant  to  each  other, 
mutually,  the  liberty  of  having,  each  in  the  ports  of  the  other, 
ponfuls,  vice-confuls,  agents  and  commiffaries  of  their  own 
appointing,  whofe  funftions  fhall  be  regulated  by  particular 
agreements,  whenever  either  party  chules  to  make  fuch  ap- 
pointments. 

Art.  XXII.  This  treaty  ftiall  not  be  undcrftood  in  any  man- 
ner to  derogate  from  the  ninth,  tenth,  nineteenth  and  twenty- 
fourth  articles  of  the  treaty  with  France,  as  they  were  num- 
bered in  the  fame  treaty  concluded  the  6th  of  February,  1778, 
and  which  majce  the  articles  ninth,  tenth,  feventeenth,  and 
twenty-fecond,  of  the  treaty  of  commerce  now  fubfifting  be- 
tween the  United  States  of  America  and  the  crown  of  France  : 
nor  fhall  it  hinder  his  Catholic  Majefly  from  acceding  to  that 
treaty,  and  enjoying  the  advantages  of  the  faid  four  articles. 

Art.  XXIII.  If  at  any  time  the  United  States  of  America 
fhall  judge  necelfary  to  commence  negociations  with  the  king  or 
emperor  of  Morocco  and  Fez,  and  with  the  regencies  of  Al- 
giers, Tunis  or  Tripoli,  or  with  any  of  them,  to  obtain  paff- 
ports  for  the  fecurity  of  their  navigation  in  the  Mediterranean 
lea,  their  High  Mightineffes  promile,  that  upon  the  requihtion 
which  the  United  States  of  America  fhall  make  of  it,  they  will 
fecond  fuch  negociations  in  the  mofl  favourable  manner,  by 
means  of  their  confuls  refiding  near  the  faid  king,  emperor,  and 
xe^encies. 

Art.  XXIV.  The  liberty  of  navigation  and  commerce  fhall 
extend  to  all  forts  of  merchandifes,  excepting  only  thofe  which 
are  diftinguifhed  under  the  name  of  contraband,  or  merchan- 
difes prohibited  :  and  under  this  denomination  of  contraband, 
and  merchandifes  prohibited,  fhall  be  comprehended  only  war- 
like flores  and  arms,  as  mortars,  artiilerv,  with  their  artifices 
and  appurtenances,  fufils,  piftols,  bombs,  grenades,  gunpow- 
der, faltpetre,  fulphur,  match,  bullets  and  balls,  pikes,  fabres, 
lances,  halbeits,  cafques,  cuiraffes,  and  other  forts  of  arms  ;  as 
alfo,  foldiers  horfes,  laddies,  and  furniture  for  horfes.  All  otlier 
effefts  and  merchandifes.  not  before  fpecified  exprefsly,  and 
fven  all  iorts   of  naval   matleis,   however  proper  they    may   be 


^48  TRE  AT-y   0  F 

for  the  conftruftion  and  equipment  of  veffels  of  war,  or  forth^ 
inanufafture  of  one  or  other  fort  of  machines  of  war,  by  land 
or  fea,  fhall  not  be  judged  contraband,  neither  by  the  letter, 
nor  according  to  any  pretended  interpretation  whatever,  ought 
they,  or  can  they  be  comprehended  under  the  notion  of  effefts 
prohibited  or  contraband  :  fo  that  all  effefts  and  merchandifes 
whicji  are  not  exprefsly  before  named,  may,  without  any  excep- 
tion, and  in  perfeft  liberty,  be  tranfported  by  the  fubjefts  an^ 
inhabitants  of  both  allies,  from  and  to  places  belonging  to  the 
enemy  ;  excepting  only,  the  places  which  at  the  fame  time  fhall 
be  befieged,  blocked  or  invefted  ;  and  thofe  places  only  fliall  be 
held  for  fuch,  which  are  furrounded  nearly  by  fome  of  the 
belligerent  powers. 

Art.  XXV.  To  the  end  that  all  diffenfion  and  quarrel  may 
fee  avoided  and  prevented,  it  has  been  agreed,  that  in  cafe  one 
of  the  two  parties  happens  to  be  at  war,  the  veflels  belonging 
to  the  fubjefts  or  inhabitants  of  the  other  ally  {hall  be  provided 
with  fea-letters  or  paffports,  exprefling  the  name,  the  property, 
and  the  burthen  of  the  veifel,  as  alfo  the  name  of  the  place  of 
abode  of  the  mailer  or  commander  of  the  faid  veffel ;  to  the 
end  that  thereby  it  may  appear,  that  the  veffel  really  and  truly 
belongs  to  fubjefts  or  inhabitants  of  one  of  the  parties  ;  which 
paffports  fliall  be  drawn  and  diftributed  according  to  the  form 
annexed  to  this  treaty.  Each  ti^ie  that  the  veffei  fliall  return, 
ihe  fiiould  have  fuch  her  paffport  renewed  ;  or,  at  lea  ft,  they 
ought  not  to  be  of  more  ancient  date  than  two  years,  before  the 
veffel  has  been  returned  to  her  own  country.  It  has  been  alC© 
agreed,  that  fuch  veffels  being  loaded,  ought  to  be  provided  not 
only  with  the  faid  paffports  or  fea-letters,  but  alfo  with  a  general 
paffport,  or  with  particular  paffports,  or  manifefts,  or  other 
public  docum.ents,  which  arc  ordinarily  given  to  veffels  outward, 
bound,  in  the  ports  from  whence  the  veffels  have  fet  fail  in  the 
laft  place,  containing  a  fpecification  of  the  cargo,  of  the  place 
from  whence  the  veffels  have  fet  fail  in  the  daft  place,  contain- 
ing a  fpecification  of  the  cargo,  of  the  place  from  whence  the 
veffel  departed,  and  of  that  of  her  deftination  ;  or,  inftead  of 
all  thefe.  with  certificates  from  the  magiftrates,  or  governors  of 
cities,  places  and  colonies  from  whence  the  veffel  came,  given 
in  the  ufual  form,  to  the  end  that  it  may  be  known  whether 
there  are  any  eft'efts  prohibited  or  contraband  on  board  the 
veffels,  and  whether  they  are  deftined  to  be  carried  to  an  ene- 
my's country  or  not.  And  in  cafe  any  one  judges  proper  to 
exprefs  ijn  the  faid  documents,  the  perfons  to  whom   the  effeAs 


AMITY  AND  COMMkRCE.  449 

fcelon'g,  he  niay  do  it  freely,  without,  however;  being  boiTnd  to 
do  it ;  and  the  otnifiion  of  fuch  exprefliori  cannot,  and  ought 
x^ot  to  taiife  a  confifcatiotl. 

Art.  XXVI.  If  the  veffels  of  the  faid  fubjeifts  or  inhabitants 
of  either  of  the  parties,  failing  along  the  coaits,  or  on  th6  high 
feas,  are  met  by  a  vcltel  of  war,  or  privateer,  or  other  armed 
veffel  of  the  othet-  party;  the  faid  veffels  of  war,  privateers  or 
armed  veffels,  for  avoiding  all  diforder,  fhall  rerriaiti  without  the 
reach  of  canrion,  but  may  fend  their  boats  on  board  the  merchant 
Veffels  whith  tlicy  (hall  meet  in  this  manner,  Upon  which  they 
may  not  pafs  more  than  two  or  three  men,  to  whom  the  msftcr 
or  commander  (hall  exhibit  his  paffport,  containing  the  pro- 
perty of  the  veffel,  according  to  the  form  annexed  to  this 
treaty  :  and  the  veffel,  after  having  exhibited  iuch  a  paffport, 
fea-letter,  and  other  documetits,  fliall  be  free  to  continue  her 
voyage,  [o  that  it  ihidl  not  be  lawful  to  moicil  her,  orfe^rchher, 
in  any  manner,  nor  to  give  her  chace,  nor  to  force  her  to  alter 
her  courfe. 

Art.  XXVII.  It  fiiall  be  lawful  for  merchants,  captains,  and 
Commanders  of  veffels,  whether  public  arid  of  war,  or  private 
and  of  merchants,  belonging  to  the  faid  United  States  of  Ame- 
rica, or  any  of  them,  or  to  their  fubje6ls  and  inhabitants,  to 
take  freely  into  their  fervice,  and  to  receive  on  board  of  thcii* 
veffels  in  any  port  ci*  place  in  the  jurildi6lion  of  their  High 
Might'ineffes  aforefaid,  feartien  or  others,  natives  or  inhabitants 
of  ainy  of  the  faid  States,  upon  fiich  conditions  as  they 
fhall  agree  on,  v/ithout  being  lubjeft,  for  this,  to  any  fine, 
penalty,  punifllment,  procefs  or  reprehenfioa   whatfoever. 

And  reciprocally,  all  merchants,  captains  and  commanders, 
belonging  to  the  faid  United  iStetherlands,  (hall  enjoy  all  in  the 
ports  and  places  under  the  obedience  of  the  (aid  United  States 
of  Americaj  the  fame  privilege  of  engaging  aj^d  receivin-:;  Tea- 
men or  others,  natives  or  inhabitants  of  any  country  of  the 
domination  of  the  faid  States-General  :  provided,  that  neither  on 
one  fide  nor  the  other,  they  may  not  take  into  their  (eirvice  fuch 
of  their  countrymen  who  have  already  engaged  in  the  fervice  of 
the  other  party  contracting,  whether  in  war  or  trade,  and 
whether  they  meet  them  by  land  or  fea  ;  at  leaft,  if  the  captains 
or  mafters  under  the  command  of  whom  fuch  perfons  may  be 
found,  will  not  of  their  own  confcnt  difcharge  them  from  their 
fervice,  upon  pain  of  being  olherwifc  treated  and  puaill?ei  a* 
defertcrs. 

Vol,  IV.  3  M 


^5^  T  RE  A  TY   0  F 

Art.  XXVllI.  The  affair  of  the  refraftlon  fliall  be  rege- 
lated in  all  equity  and  juftice  by  the  magiftrates  of  cities  rc- 
fpeftively,  where  it  fhall  be  judged  that  there  is  any  room  to 
complain  in  this  refpeft. 

Art.  XXIX.  The  prefent  treaty  fhall  be  ratified  and  approve/i 
by  their  High  MightinefTes  the  States-General  of  the  United 
Netherlands,  and  by  the  United  States  of  America  ;  and  the 
afts  of  ratification  fhall  be  delivered,  in  good  and  due  form, 
on  one  fide  and  on  the  other,  in  the  fpace  of  fix  months,  or 
fooner,  if  poflible,  to  be  computed  from  the  day  of  the  figna- 
tuve. 

In  faith  of  which,  we  the  deputies  and  plenipotentiaries  of 
the  Lords  the  States-General  of  the  United  Netherlands, 
and  the  minifler  plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  in  virtue  of  our  refpeflive  authorities  and  full 
powers,  have  figned  the  pfeient  treaty,  and  appofed 
thereto  the  feals  6f  our  arms. 
Done  at  the  Hague,  the  eighth  of  Oftober,  one  thoufand 
feven  hundred  and  eighty-two. 
(L.  S.)  GEORGE  VAN  RANDWYCR^ 

(L.  S.)  B,  V.  SANTHEUVEL, 

(L.  S.)  P.  VAN  BLEISWYK, 

'(L.  S.)  W.  C.  H.  VAN  LYNDEN, 

{L.  S.)  D.  J.  VAN  HEECREREN, 

(L.  S.)  JOAN  VAN  RUFFELER, 

(L.  S.)  T.  G.  VAN  DEDEM,   (Tot  den  Gclder) 

(L.  S.)  H.  T.  JASSENS, 

(L.  S.)  JOHN  ADAMS. 

«_..<..<..<4^(|.>..)l..>.  —m 

THE  FORM  of  the   Pajfport  which  fiall  he  given  to  flips  and 
veffels,  in  confequcnce  of  the  twenty -Jifth  article  of  this  treaty. 

To  all  who  fliall  fee  thefe  prefents,  greeting  : 

BE  it  known,  that  leave   and  permilTion  are  hereby  given  to 

mafter  or  commander  of  the 
fiiip  or  veiTcl  called  of  the  burthen  of 

tons,  or  thereabouts,  lying  at  prefent   in   the  port  or  haven  of 

bound  for  and  laden  with 

to  depart   and  proceed   with   his  faid  (hip  or  vrffel  on  his    faid 
voyage,    fuch   fhip   or   veffel  having  been  vifited,  and   the  faid 


^AMITY  AND  COMMERCE.  ^j 

tnafter  and  commander  having  m»de  oath  before  the  proper 
officer,  that  the  faid  Ihip  or  veffel  belongs  to  one  or  more  of 
the  fubjefts,  people  or  inhabitants  of 

and  to  him  or  them  only.  In  witnefs  whereof  we 
have  fubfcribed  our  names  to  thefe  prefents,  and  afHxed  the  feul 
pf  our  arms  thereto,  and  caufed  the  fame  to  be  counterfigned  by 

{It  this 

day  of  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  Chrift 

fORM  oj  the  Certificate  zohich  JhalL  be  given  to  Jhips  or  vejfds^  in 
confequence  of  the  izuenty-fifth  article  of  this  treaty. 

WE 

magiftrates  or  ofEcers  of  the  cuftoms  of  the  city  or 
port  of  do  certify  and  atteft,  that  on  the 

day  of  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 

C.   D.  of  perfonally  appeared  before 

us,  and  declared  by  folemn  oath,  that  the  ihip  or  yeflel  called 
of  tons  or  thereabouts,  v/hereof 

of  is  at  prefent  mafter  or  commander, 

docs  rightfully  and  properly  belong  to  him  or  them  only ;  that 
file  is  now  bound  from  the  city  or  port  of  to  the 

port  of  laden  with  goods  and  merchandifes  hereunder 

particularly  defcrlbed  and  enumerated,  as  follows  : 

"  In  witnefs  whereof  we  have  figned  this  certificate,  and  fealed 
it  with  the  feal  of  our  office,  this  day  of 

in  the  year  of  our  Lord  Chrift 

FORM  of  the  Seq-Letter. 

MOST  Serene,  Serene,  Moft  PuilTant,  Puiffant,  High,  liluf- 
trious.  Noble,  Honourable,  Venerable,  Wife  and  Prudent, 
Lords,  Emperors,  Kings,  Republics,  Princes,  Dukes,  Earls, 
Barons,  Lords,  Burgo-mafters,  Schepens,  Counfellors,  as  alfo 
Judges,  Officers,  Jufticiaries  and  Regents  of  all  the  good  cities 
and  places,  whether  ecclefiaftical  or  fecular,  who  Ihali  fee  thefe 
prefents,  or  hear  them  read. 

We,  Burgo-mafters  and  Regents  of  the  city  of 
make  known,  that  the  mafter  of  appearing  before  us, 

has  declared  upon  oath,   that  the  veffel  called  of  the 

burthen  of  about  lafts,  which  he  at  prefent  navigates,  is  of 

the  United  Provinces,  and  that  no  fubjefts  of  the  enemy  have 
any  part  or  portion  therein,  direftly  nor  iridireftly,  fo  may  God 
Almighty   help  him.     And  as  we  wifli  to  fee  the   faid  mafter 

3  1^  ^ 


452       DECREE  OF  THE  QUEEN  OF  PORTUGAL. 

profper  in  his  lawful  afFairs,  our  prayer  is  to  all  the  before 
mentioned,  and  to  each  of  them  feparatply,  -where  the  faicj 
maflcr  fliall  arrive  with  his  veiTel  and  caigo,  that  they  may 
pleafe  to  receive  the  faid  mafter  with  goodnefs,  and  to  treat 
him  in  a  becoming  manner,  permitting  biip.j  upon  the  ufual  toll 
and  cxpcnfes  in  pafling  and  repafung,  to  pals,  navigate,  an4 
frequent  the  ports,  paiTes  and  territories,  to  the  end  to  tranfaft 
his  bufinefs  where  and  in  what  manncf  he  fhall  judge  proper  ; 
whereof  we  fhall  be  willingly  indebted. 

In  witnefs  and  for  caufc    wliereof,  we  affix  hereto  the  feal  of 
this  city. 

(In  the  margin.) 

Sy  ordinance  of  tht  High  and  Mighty  Lords  the  Statcs-Gtmral  of 

the  Uniitd  Netherlands. 


■■<■■<••<  •<^^>"^">-V-—v 


AUTHEXTIC  COPY  OF  THE 

DECREE  OF  THE  QUEEN  OF  PORTUGAI., 

rOR    OPENING    A     COMMERCTAL      INTERCOURSE      BETWEEN    HE  11 
SUBJECTS    AND    THOSE     Of    THE     UNITED     STATES. 

POR.TUGAL. 

Her  Mujelty  has  been  pleafcd  to  order  the  following  Decree  to 
be  tianfmitted  to  her  Royal  Court  of  Exchequer,  that  publi- 
cation may  be  made  of  the  lame. 


HEREAS  by  the  Declaration. of  the  Irtdependcnce  pf  the 
United  States  of  North-America,  the  objeft  intended  by  the 
Royal  Decree  of  the  4ih  of  July,  1776,  and  the  publication 
thereof,  by  our  Couit  of  Exchequer,  on  the  5tli  of  the  fame 
monll),  have  ceaicd  to  operate.  We  are  therefore  pleafed  to 
abolifh  and  annul  the  decree  and  publication  aforefaid  ;  and  do 
hereby  order,  that  free  entrance  be  granted  in  all  the  ports  of 
our  dominions,  unto  all  fliips  and  veffcls  coming  from  ^6rth- 
A.nieric3,  in  ths  fjfme  manner  as  was  formerly  had  in  the  admif- 


TREATY  OF  AMITY  AND  COMMERCE.  ^53 

JJpn  of  thofe  which  arrived  from  the  faid  colonies  in  the  port* 
aforefaid,  and  that  all  hofpitality  ar.d  favour  be  fliewn  them, 
which  is  uTually  done  to  other  friendly  nations. 

Our  Court  of  Exchequer  will  fee  this  performed  accordingly; 
and  are  ordered  to  cavde  this  decree  to  be  printed  and  fet  up  in 
all  public  places  of  our  city  of  l^ifoon,  and  of  other  ports  of 
this  kingdom  and  Algarve,  that  all  perfons  may  have  due  notice 
ihereof,  and  none  plead  ignorance  of  the  fame. 

Given  at  Salvaterta  de  Magos,  the  13th  of  February,  1783. 
(Signed)  With  her  Majeily's  Cypher, 

And  in  order  that  all  perfons  may  have  notice  of  this  royal 
refolution  of  our  Lady  aforefaid,  we  have  caufed  thefe  prefents 
to  be  printed,  and  affixed  at  all  public  places  of  this  city  and 
wlher  parts  of  this  kingdom,  agreeable  to  the  tenor  of  the  Decree 
jibove  mentioned. 

Lifbon,  this  17th  of  February,  1783. 

(Signed)         GONSOLA  JOSE  DA  SILVEIRA  PRETQ, 
JOSE  DA  CONSTA  RIBEIRO. 


..«..«..<..«..«  .^  V^<<^  ^  »•■>■  )•••■ 


TREATY  OF  AMITY  AND  COMMERCE 


BETWEXM 

HIS  MAJESTY  THE  KING  OF  PRUSSIA,   AND  THE  THIRTEEN' 
UNITED  ST.\TE3  Of  AMERICA, 


-IS  Majelly  the  King  of  Prufiia,  and  the  United  States  of 
America,  defiring  to  fix,  in  a  permanent  and  equitable  manner, 
the  rules  to  be  obferved  in  the  intercourfe  and  commerce  they 
defire  to  eftablifh  between  their  refpeftive  countries,  his  Majefty 
and  the  United  States  have  judged,  that  the  faid  end  cannot  be 
better  obtained  than  by  taking  the  moib  perfeft  equality  and  re- 
ciprocity for  the  bafis  of  their  agreement. 

With  this  view,  his  Majelly  the  King  of  Pruflia  has  nominated 
and  conftituted,  as  his  plenipotentiary,  the  Baron  Frederick 
William  de  Thulemeier,  his  prii'y  ccunfellor  of  embaffy  and  en- 
voy extraordinary,  with  their  High  MightinelTes  the  States- 
peneral  of  the  United  Nctherlonds  ;  and  the  United  States  have, 
pn  their  part,  given  full  pov/ers   to  John  Adams,  Efq.  late  one 


454  TREATY  OF 

of  their  miniflers  plenipotentiary  for  ncgociating  a  peace,  here« 
tofore  a  delegate  in  Congrefs  from  the  State  of  MafTachufetts, 
and  chief  juftice  of  the  fame,  and  now  miniller  plenipotentiary 
of  the  United  States  with  his  Britannic  Majefty ;  Dr.  Benjamit) 
Franklin,  late  minifter  plenipotentiary  at  the  Court  of  Verfailles, 
and  another  of  their  miniflers  plenipotentiary  for  negotiating  a 
peace;  and  Thomas  Jefferfon,  heretofore  a  delegate  in  Congrefs 
from  the  State  of  Virginia,  and  governor  of  the  faid  State,  and 
now  minifter  plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States  at  the  Court 
of  his  Moft  Chriftian  Majefly,  which  refpeftive  plenipotentia- 
ries, after  having  exchanged  their  full  powers,  and  on  mature 
deliberation,  have  concluded^  fettled  and  figned  the  following 
articles  : 

Article  I.  There  fliall  be  a  Srm,  inviolable  and  univerfal  peace 
and  fincere  friendfnip  between  his  Majefty  the  King  of  Pruftia, 
his  heirs,  fucceffors  and  fubjefts,  on  the  one  part,  and  the  United 
States  of  America  and  their  citizens,  on  the  other,  without  e§. 
ceptions  of  perfons  or  places. 

Art.  II.  The  fubjefls  of  his  Majefty  the  King  of  Prufiia  may 
frequent  all  the  coafts  and  countries  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  refide  and  trade  there  in  all  forts  of  produce,  ma- 
nufaflures  and  merchandife  5  and  fhall  pay  within  the  faid  United 
States  no  other  or  greater  duties,  charges  or  fees  whatfoever. 
than  the  moft  favoured  nations  are  or  fhall  be  obliged  to  pay; 
and  they  (hall  enjoy  all  the  rights,  privileges,  and  exemptions  ii^ 
navigation  and  commerce,  v/hich  the  moft  favoured  nation  does 
or  fhall  enjoy  ;  fubmitting  themfelves,  neverthelcfs,  to  the  laws 
and  ufages  there  eftabliflied,  and  to  which  are  fubmitted  the  ci- 
ti2ens  of  the  United  States  and  the  citizens  apd  fubjcfts  of  tl^c 
moft  favoured  nations. 

Art.  III.  In  like  manner  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  of 
America  may  frequent  all  the  coafts  and  countries  of  his  Majefty 
the  King  of  Prufiia,  and  refide  and  trade  there  in  all  forts  of 
produce,  manufaftures  and  merchandife,  and  fhall  pay  in  the 
dominions  of  his  faid  Majefty,  no  other  or  greater  duties,  charges 
or  itcs  whatfoever,  than  the  moft  favoured  nation  is  or  fhall  be 
obliged  to  pay  ;  and  they  fliall  enjoy  all  the  rights,  privileges, 
and  exemptions  in  navigation  and  commerce,  which  the  moft 
favoured  nation  does  or  fliall  enjoy  :  fubmitting  themfelves  ne- 
verlhelels  to  the  laws  and  ufages  there  eftabliflied,  and  J;p.  which 
are  fubmhted  the  I'uhjefts  of  his  M;jcfty  the  King  <:)f  PrufFia. 
and  the  fubjecls  and  cii-zens  cf  the  moft  favouicd  nations.   ■ 


AMITY  and    commerce.  455 

Art;  IV.  More  efpecially  each  party  fhall  have  a  riglit  to  carry 
their  own  produce,  manufaftures  and  merchandife,  in  their  own 
or  any  other  veffels,  to  any  parts  of  the  dominions  of  the  other, 
where  it  fhall  be  lawful  for  all  the  fubjefts  or  citirens  of  that 
other  freely  to  purchafe  them  ;  and  thence  to  take  the  produce, 
manufaftures  and  merchandife  of  the  other,  which  all  the  faid 
citizens  or  fubje6ls  {hall  in  like  manner  be  free  to  fell  them,  pay- 
ing in  both  cafes  fuch  duties,  charges  and  fees  only,  as  are  or 
fhall  be  paid  by  the  mod  favoured  nation.  Neverthelefs  the 
King  of  Pruflia  and  the  United  States,  and  each  of  them,  re* 
ferve  to  themfelves  the  right  where  any  nation  reftrains  the  tranf- 
portation  of  merchandife  to  the  veflels  of  the  country  of  which 
it  is  the  growth  or  manufafture,  to  eftablifh  agairift  fuch  nation 
retaliating  regulations  ;  and  alio  tlie  right  to  prohibit,  in  their 
refpeftive  countries,  the  importation  and  exportation  of  all  mer- 
chandife whatfoever,  when  reafons  of  flate  fhall  require  it.  In 
this  cafe,  the  fubjects  or  citizens  of  either  of  the  contrafting  par- 
ties Ihall  not  import  nor  export  the  merchandife  prohibited  by 
the  other ;  but  if  one  of  the  contrafting  parties  permits  any 
other  nation  to  import  or  export  the  fame  merchandife,  the  citi- 
zens or  fubjefts  of  the  other  fhall  immediately  enjoy  the  fame 
liberty. 

Art.  V.  The  merchants,  commanders  of  velTels,  or  other  fub- 
jefts  or  citizens  of  either  party,  fhall  not,  within  the  ports  or 
jurifdiftion  of  the  other,  be  forced  to  unload  any  fort  of  mer- 
chandife into  any  other  veflels ;  nor  to  receive  them  into  their 
own,  nor  to  wait  for  their  being  loaded  longer  than  they 
pleafe. 

Art.  VI.  That  the  veffeis  of  either  party  loading  within  the 
ports  or  jurifdiftion  of  the  other,  may  not  be  ufelefsly  haraffed 
or  detained,  it  is  agreed,  that  all  examinations  of  goods  required 
by  the  laws,  fhall  be  made  before  they  be  laden  on  board  the 
vefTel,  and  that  there  fhall  be  no  examination  after  ;  nor  fhall  the 
velTel  be  fearched  at  any  time,  unlefs  articles  fliall  have  been 
laden  therein  clandeftinely  and  illegally  ;  in  which  cafe  the  per- 
fon  by  whofe  order  they  were  carried  on  board,  or  who  carried 
them  without  order,  fhall  be  liable  to  the  laws  of  the  land  in 
which  he  is  :  but  no  other  perfon  fliall  be  molefled,  nor  fhall 
any  other  goods,  nor  the  velTel,  be  feifed  or  detained  for  that 
caufe. 

Art.  Vll.  Each  party  fhall  endeavour,  by  all  the  tncnns  in 
their  power,  to  proteft  and  defend  ail  veffeis  and  other  effefts 
fcelonging  to  the  citizens  or  fubjefts  of  the  other,  which  ih^ll  he 


45&  TkEATY    OF 

Within  the  c-Ntent  of  their  juiifdiflion, by  fea  or  by  land  ;  and  fnall 
iiie.  all  their  efforts  to  recover,  and  caufe  to  be  reftorcd  to  their 
right  owners,  their  veffcls  and  efFetls  which  (hall  be  taken  from 
them  within  the  extent  of  their  laid   jurifdiftion. 

Art.  VIII.  The  vefTels  of  the  fubjefts  or  citizens  of  eithef 
^aity,  fcoming  on  any  coaft  belonging  to  the  other,  but  not 
•willing  to  enter  into  poit,  or  being  entered  into  port,  and  not 
•willing  to  unload  their  cnvgoes  or  break  bulk,  fllall  have  liberty 
to  depart,  and  to  purfue  their  voyage  without  tnoleftation,  and 
ivithout  being  obliged  to  render  account  of  their  cargo,  or  to 
pay  any  duties,  charges  or  fees  whatfoever,  except  thole  eftab- 
liftied  for  veffels  entered  into  port,  and  appropriated  to  the 
maintenance  of  the  port  itlelf,  or  of  other  ellablifliments  for 
the  fafety  and  convenience  of  navigators,  which  duties,  charges 
and  fees,  fliall  be  the  iamc,  and  (hall  be  paid  on  the  fame  foot- 
ing as  in  the  cafe  of  lubjctls  or  citizens  bf  the  country  whei'Ci 
they  are  eflablifhed. 

Art.  IX.  When  any  vefTel  of  either  p<irty  fliall  be  wrecked, 
foundered,  or  otherv^ife  damaged  on  the  coafts,  or  within  the 
dominion  of  the  other,  their  refpe6live  lubjefts  or  citizens 
fhall  receive  as  well  for  themfeilves  as  for  their  veflels  and 
effefts,  the  fame  affiftance  which  would  be  due  to  the  inha- 
bitants of  the  country  where  the  damage  happens,  and  fhali 
pay  the  fame  charges  and  dues  only  as  the  faid  inhabitants  would 
be  fubjeft  to  psy  in  a  like  cafe  ;  and  if  the  operations  of  repair 
fliall  require  that  the  whole  or  any  part  of  their  cargo  be 
trnlalded,  they  fhall  pay  no  duties^  charges  or  fees,  on  the  part 
■ivhich  they  (hall  relade  and  darry  away.  The  ancient  and  bar- 
barous right  to  wiecks  of  the  fea  fhall  be  entirely  abc;Iifhed 
with  relpcft  to  the  fubjefts  or  citizens  of  the  two  contracling 
parties. 

All.  X.  The  citizens  or  fubje£ls  of  eath  party  fliyll  have 
po',ver  to  dilpole  of  their  perfonal  goods  within  the  jurildiflion 
t)f  the  other,  by  teilament,  donation  or  otherwife  ;  and  their 
reprelentatives,  being  lubjcfts  or  citizens  of  the  other  party, 
flirtll  fucceed  to  their  laid  perfonal  goods,  whether  by  teftament 
t)r  ab  intejlato,  and  may  take  poffeflion  thereof,  either  by  them- 
lelves,  or  by  others  afting  for  them,  and  difpofe  of  the  fame  at 
their  wiilj  paying  fuch  duties  only  as  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country,  wherein  the  faid  goods  are,  fhall  be  {'ubjcft  to  pay  iiv 
like  cafes  ;  and  in  cafa  of  the  abiencc  of  the  reprefentative,  iuch 
care  ffeall  be  taken  of  the  faid  goods,  and  for  fo  long  »  time,  as 
would  be  taken  of  tlie  goods  of  a  native  in  like  cafe,-  until  the 
lawful  owner  may  take,  incdfnres    fi>r   receivii.g   thf?m.     Antl   if 


A  M  1 1 Y  A N D  CO  M MERGE.  457 

^uef!ion  fliall  arife  among  feveral  claimants,  to  wKich  of  them 
the  faid  goods  belong,  the  fame  fliall  be  decided  finally  by  the 
?:iws  and  judgies  of  the  land  Avherein  the  Paid  goods  are.  And 
where,  on  the  death  of  any  perfon  holdinj^  real  eftate  within 
the  territories  of  the  ore  party,  fuch  real  eftate  \vonld,  by  the 
laws  of  the  land,  defcend  on  a  citizen  or  fubjeft  of  tlie  othevj 
xvere  he  not  difqualified  by  alienage,  fuch  fubjeft  fanll  be  allowed 
a  reafonable  time  to  fell  the  fame,  and  to  withdraw  the  proceeds 
without  moleftation,  andexenpt  from  all  rights  of  detraftion 
on  the  part  of  the  government  of  the  refpeftive  States.  But 
this  article  fliall  not  derogate  in  any  manner  from  the  force  of 
the  lau'S  already  publifhed,  or  hereafter  to  be  publiflied,  by  his 
M;:jefty  the  King  of  F^'ufiia,  to  prevent  the  emigration  of  his 
fubjefts. 

Art.  XI.  The  mofl  perfeft  freedom  of  confcience,  and  of 
worfhip,  is  granted  to  the  citizens  or  fubjefts  of  either  partv, 
within  the  jurifditlion  of  the  other,  without  being  liable  to 
moleftation  in  that  refpeftj  for  any  caufe  or  infult  on  the  reli- 
gion of  others.  Moreover,  when  the  fubjefts  or  citizens  of 
^.he  one  party  Tnall  die  within  the  jurildiftion  of  the  other,  their 
bodies  fhall  be  buried  in  the  uiual  burying  grounds,  or  other 
decent  and  fnitable  places,  and  fhall  be  protected  from  violation 
or  difturbance; 

Art.  Xil.  If  one  of  the  tontrafting  parties  fhould  be  engaged 
in  war  with  any  other  power,  the  free  intercourle  and  com^ 
mei'ce  of  the  fubjcfts  or  citizens  of  the  party  remaining  neuter 
with  the  belligerent  J^ovv'ers  fliall  not  be  iuterrupted.  On  the 
contrary,  in  that  cafe^  as  in  full  peace,  the  velTcls  of  the  neu- 
trjl  pi^arty  may  navigate  freely  to  and  from  the  portpj  and  on  the 
coafts  of  the  belligerent  parties^  free  vefTels  making  free  goods  j 
infomuch  that  all  things  fhall  be  adjudged  free,  which  flTall  be 
On  board  any  velTel  belonging  to  the  neutral  party,  although 
fuch  things  belong  to  an  enemy  of  the  other;  and  the  fame 
freedom  fnall  be  extended  to  perfons  who  fhall  be  on  board  a 
free  vedel,  although  they  fliall  be  enemies  to  the  other 
party,  unlefs  they  be  foldiers  in  the  aftual  ferviee  of  ^fuch 
enemy. 

Art.  JCIII.  And  in  the  fame  cafe,  of  one  of  the  contra£lirg 
parties  being  engaged  in  war  with  any  other  power,  to  prevent 
all  the  difficulties  and  .mifuipderilandings  that  ufualjy  arife  re* 
fpe6ling^th"e  merchandife  heretofore  called  contraband,  fuch  as 
arms,,  ammunition  and  milifaiy  ftores  of  every  kind,  no  luch 
articles, 'Carried  m    ths  vsiieis,   or  by  the  iubjctts  or  citizens  of 


45*  TREATY   Of 

one  of  ike  parties,  to  the  enemies  of  the  other,  fhaTl  ht 
deemed  contraband,  fo  as  to  induce  confifcation  or  condemna- 
tion and  a  lofs  of  property  to  individuals.  Neverthelefs,  ixr 
fliall  be  lawful  to  ftop  fuch  veffels  and  articles,  and  to  detain 
them  for  fuch  length  of  time  as  the  captors  may  thing  ncceffary, 
to  prevent  the  inconvenience  or  damage  th'at  might  enfue  from 
their  proceeding,  paying,  however,  a  reafonable  compcnfation 
for  the  Jois  fuch  arred  fhall  occafron  to  the  proprietors :  and  it 
ftiall  farther  be  allowed  to  u(e  in  the  fervlce  of  the  captors,  the 
ivhole  or  any  part  of  the  military  fti.  res  fo  detained,  paying  tha 
owners  the  full  value  of  the  fame,  to  be  afcertained  by  the 
current  pvkc  at  the  place  of  its  deflination.  But  in  the  cafe 
fuppdVrd,  of  a  veffel  ftopped  for  articles  heretofore  deemed 
contraband,  if  the  maflcr  of  the  veffel  (lopped  will  deliver 
out  the  goods  fuppofed  to  be  of  contraband  nature,-  he  fhall  be 
admitted  to  do  ft  ;■  and  the  velTcl  fl^all  not  in  that  cafe  be  carried 
into  any  p'ort,  itor  further  detained,  but  fhall  be  alliawcd  to 
proceed  on  her  voyage. 

XIV.  And  in  the  fame  cafe,  where  one  of  the  paiflles  is  en- 
gaged in  war  with  another  power,  that  the  velTels  of  the  neutral 
party  may  be  readily  and  certainly  known,  it  is  agreed,  that 
they  flrall  be'  provided  M'ith  fea  letters,  or  pafTports,  which 
flrall  exprelis  the  name,  the  property,  and  burden  of  the  veflel, 
as  alfo  the  name  and  dwelling  of  the  mafter  ;  tvhich  pallports 
fhall  be  made  out  in  good  and  due  forms,  to  be  fisftled  by  con- 
ventions between  the  parties,  whenever  occafions  fhall-  retjuirc  ; 
fliall  be  renewed  as  often  as  the  veffel  flnll  return  into  port  |- 
and  fhall  be  exhibited,  whenever  required,  as  well  in  the  open 
fea  as  in  port.  But  if  the  faid  veffel  be  under  convoy  of  one 
or  more  veffels  of  v/ar,  belonging  to  the  neutral  party,  the 
fimple  declaration  of  the  oficer  commanding-  the  convoy,  that 
the  fuid  veffel  belongs  to  the  party  of  which  he  if,  fhall  be 
confidered  as  efhsibli firing  the  fa6l,  and  fhall  relitve  both  parties 
from  the  trouble  of  further  examination. 

XV.  And  to  prevent  entirely  all  disorder  and  violence  in 
fuch  cafes^,  it  is  flrpulated,-  that  when  the  veffels  of  the  neutral 
parfy,  failing  without  convoy,  flrall  be  met  by  any  veffel  of 
war,  public  or  private,  of  the  other  party,  fuch  veffel  of 
war  fliiill  not  approach  within  cannon  Ihot  of  the  faid  neutral 
veffel,-  nor  fend  more  than  two  or  three  men  in  their  boat  on 
board  the  fame,  to  examine  her  (ea  letters  or  paffports.  And 
all  perfons  belonging  to  any  vcffcl  of  war,  public  or  private, 
who  flrall  molefl  or  injure,  in  any  manner  whatever,  the 
people,  veffels,  or  effcds  of  the  other  party,  ftiall  be  refponfible 


-     'AMITY  AND  COMMENCE,  ^f 

ip  their  perfons  and  property,  for  damages  and  interell ;  fufH.- 
cient  fecurity  for  which  fhall  be  given  by  all  commanders  of 
private  armed  veffels,  before  they  are  commiffioned. 

XVI.  It  is  agreed,  that  the  fubjefts  or  citizens  of  each  of 
the  contrafting  parties^  their  vejffels  and  cffedls,  ftiall  not  be 
liable  to  any  embargo  or  detention  on  the  part  of  the  other,  for 
any  mililitary  expedition,  or  other  public  or  private  purpofc 
ivhatfoever.  And  in  all  cafes  of  feisure,  detention,  or  arrefl, 
for  debts  contrafted,  or  offences  committed  by  any  citizen  or 
fubjeft  of  the  one  party,  within  the  jurifdiftion  of  the  other, 
(he  fame  fhall  be  made  and  profecuted  by  order  and  authority  of 
law  only,  and  according  to  the  regular  courfe  ,of  proceeding? 
ttfual  in  fuch  cafes. 

XVIJt,  If  any  vedel  or  efFefts  of  the  ijeutral  power  be  taken 
by  an  enemy  of  the  other,  or  by  a  pirate,  and  retaken  by  the 
other,  they  (hall  be  brought  into  fome  port  of  one  of  the  par- 
tics,  and  delivered  into  the  cuflody  of  the  officers  of  that  port, 
jn  order  to  be  reftored  entire  to  the  true  proprietor,  as  foon  as 
^ue  proof  fhall  be  made  concerning  the  prop.erty  thereof. 

XVIII.  If  the  citizens  or  fubjcfts  of  either  party,  in  danger 
from  tempefls,  pirates,  enemies,  or  other  accident,  fliali  take 
jrefuge,  with  their  velTels  or  effefts,  within  the  harbours  or 
jurifdifibion  pf  the  other,  they  fliall  be,  received,  protefted, 
9nd  treated  with  humanity  and  kindnefs,  and  fhall  be  per- 
mitted to  furnifh  themfelves  at  reafonable  prices  with  all  lefrefli- 
mcnts,  provifions,  and  other  things  necclTary  for  their  fufte- 
nance,  health  and  accommodaticnj  and  for  the  repair  of  their 
veffels, 

XIX.  The  vefTels  of  war,  public  and  private,  of  both  parr 
ties,  fhall  carry  freely  wherefoever  they  pleafe,  the  velTcls  and 
effefts  taken  from  their  enemies,  withouj;  being  obliged  to  pay 
^ny  duties,  charges,  or  fees,  to  ofI].cers  of  admiralty,  of  the 
cuftoms,  or  any  others;  nor  fhall  fych  prizes  be  arrefted, 
fearched  or  put  under  legal  procefs,  wheri  tliey  come  to,  and 
enter  the  ports  of  the  other  party  ;  but  may  freely  be  carried 
out  again  at  any  time,  by  their  captors,  to  the  places  exprclfed 
in  their  commiflions,  which  the  coiumandijig  officer  of  fuch 
ycflels  fhall  be  obliged  to  flicw.  But  no  vefl'el  which  fliail 
have  made  prizes  on  the  fubjecls  of  his  Mull  Chriftian  Maj-fly 
the  King  of  France,  fhall  have  a  right  of  afylum  in  the  pots 
or  haven§  of  the  laid  United  States:  and  if  any  fuch  be  forced 
therein,  by  tempeft  or  dangers  of  the  fea,  they  fnall  hz  obliged  to 
4epart  as  foon  as  pqflible,  according  to  the  tenor  of  the    treaties 

3  N   2 


4^6  T  R  E  A  TYO  F 

exifling  between   his   faiJ  Moft   Chrillian  M.ijcfty  and  the  faid 
United  States. 

XX.  No  citizen  or  fubje£l  of  either  of  the  contracling  par- 
tics  fhall  take  from  any  povver  with  which  the  other  rn;!y  be  at 
war,  any  commifiion  or  letter  of  marque  for  arming  any 
veffel  to  a£b  as  privateer  againft  the  other,  on  pain  of  being 
punifiied  as  a  pirate  ;  nor  fhall  either  party  hire,  lend,  or 
give  any  pait  of  their  naval  or  military  force  to  the  cnerr.y 
of  the  other,  to  aid  them  offcnfively  pr  dcfenfivcly  againft  that 
other. 

XXI.  If  the  twQ  contrafting  parties  fhould  be  engaged  in  a 
^^'ar  againft  a  common  enemy,  the  following  points  fhall  be 
obfcrved  between  them  : 

ill.  If  a  velTel  of  one  of  the  parties,  retaken  by  a  privateer 
6f  the  other,  fhalj  not  have  been  in  polteflion  of  the  enemy 
jnore  than  twenty-four  hours,  flie  fhall  be  rellored  to  the  fird 
•wncr  for  one  third  of  the  value  of  the  vefTel  and  cargo  :  but 
if  flie  fhall  have  been  more  than  twenty-four  hours  in  the  pof- 
felfion  of  the  enemy,  fhe  fhall  belong  wholly  to  the  recaptor. 
2d.  If  in  the  fame  caie  the  recapture  were  by  a  public  velfel  of 
war  of  one  party,  rcflitution  fhall  be  miide  to  the  owner  for 
one  thirtieth  part  of  the  value  of  the  veil'el  and  cargo,  if  flie 
Ihall  not  have  been  in  the  polfefrion  of  the  enemy  more  than 
twenty-four  hours,  and  one  tenth  of  the  laid  value  where  flie 
(hall  have  been  longer,  which  fums  fhall  be  diRributcd  in  gratui- 
ties to  the  recaptors.  3d.  The  reftitution  in  the  cafes  afoefaid, 
fhall  be  after  due  proof  of  property,  and  luiety  given  fcr  the 
part  to  which  the  recaptors  are  entitled,  4th.  The  veffels  of 
war,  public  and  private,  of  the  two  parties,  fliall  be  recipro- 
cally admitted  with  their  prizes  into  the  refpeftive  ports  of 
each  :  but  the  faid  prizes  fliall  not  be  clifcharged  nor  fold  there^ 
until  their  legality  fhall  have  been  decided,  according  to  the 
lavx^s  and  reaul-jtjons  of  the  flate  tq  which  the  captor  belongs 
but  by  the  judicatures  of  the  place  into  which  the  prize  fhalj. 
iiavi  been  condufted.  5th.  It  fliall  be  fiee  to  each  party  to 
make  ii;ch  reguldtions  as  they  fliall  judge  neccifjiy,  for  the 
condu6l,uf  their  lelpcft'ivc  vcffols  of  wai,  public  and  private, 
relative  to  the  velllls  which  they  fliall  take  auu  carry  into  the 
po.its  of  the  :u'0  pai.tics. 

XXI J.  Where  the  paities  fliaij  have  a  common  enemy,  or 
iliall-boih  be  neutral,  the  vefTels  of  war  of  eac'.i  fhall  upon  all 
tccahons  ,  tiike  under  dieir  protection  the  velfcls  of  the  oth^r 
gQin!5,,tbif,;f*^a^:,coyjrfej  and   fliall   defend   fuch    v^ffeU-^s    long 


AMlTY  ANI>  COMMERCE,  4^4 

as  iliey  hold  the  faftie  courfe,  againfl  all  force  and  violence,  id 
the  fame  manner  as  they  ought  to  proteft  and  defend  veffels  be- 
longing to  the  purty  of  which  they  are. 

XXIII.  If  war  ihould  arife  between  the  two  contrafting 
parties,  the  merchants  of  either  country,  then  rehding  in  the 
Other,  fliall  be  allowed  to  remain  nine  months  to  colle6l  their 
debts,  and  fettle  their  affairs,  and  may  depart  freely,  carrying 
off  all  their  effefts,  without  moleflation  or  hindrance  ;  and  all 
women  and  children,  fchohrs  of  every  faculty,  cultivators  of 
the  earth,  artifans,  manufafturers,  and  hfliermen,  unarmed  and 
inhabiling  unfortified  towns,  villages  or  places,  and  in  genen;! 
all  others,  whofe  occupations  are  for  the  common  fubfiftcnce  and 
benefit  of  mankind,  (hall  be  allowed  to  continue  their  refpeftive 
employments,  and  fhail  not  be  molefted  in  their  peribns  ;  nor 
fliall  their  houfes  or  goods  be  burnt,  or  otherwife  deftroyed, 
nor  their  fields  walled  by  the  armed  force  of  the  enemy,  into 
whofe  power,  by  the  events  of  war,  they  may  happen  to  fall : 
but  if  any  thing  be  neceffary  to  be  taken  from  them  for  tlie  ufs 
of  fuch  armed  force,  the  fame  fhall  be  paid  for  at  a  reafonable 
price.  And  all  merchant  and  trading  veffels  employed  in  ex- 
changing the  produfts  of  different  places,  and  thereby  rendering 
the  neceffaries,  convcniencies,  and  comforts  of  human  life  more 
eafy  to  be  obtained,  and  more  general,  {hall  be  allowed  to  pafs 
free  and  unmoleffed  :  and  neither  of  the  contrafting  parties 
fhall  grant  or  iffue  any  commiffion  to  any  private  armed  veffels*, 
empowering  them  to  take  or  dcllroy  fuch  trading  veffels,  or  in- 
terrupt fuch  commerce. 

XXIV.  And  to  prevent  the  deflru£lion  of  prifoncrs  of  war, 
by  fending  them  into  diftant  and  inclement  countries,  or  by 
crowding  them  in  dole  and  noxious  places,  the  two  contrafting 
parties  folemnly  pledge  themlelves  to  each  other,  and  to  the 
world,  that  they  will  not  adopt  any  fuch  praflice  ;  that  neither 
will  fend  the  prifoners  whom  they  may  take  from  the  other, 
into  the  Eiifl- Indies,  or  any  other  parts  of  Aha  or  Africa,  but 
that  they  fliall  be  placed  in  fome  part  of  their  dominions  in 
Europe  cr  America,  in  wholefome  fituations  ;  that  they  {hall 
not  be  confined  in  dungeons,  prifon  ffiips,  nor  prifons,  nor  be 
put  into  irons,  nor  bound,  nor  otherwilc  reftrained  in  the  ufe 
of  their  limbs  ;  that  the  ofEceis  fhall  be  enlarged  on  their  paroles 
within  convenient  diflricls,  and  have  comfortable  quarters  ;  and 
the  common  men  be  difpofed  in  eant6nments,  open  and  ex  ten- 
five  enough  for  air  and  exerciicj  and  lodged  in  barracks  as 
foomy  and  as' good  as  are  provided  by  tlie  paity  in  whofe  power 
:hey  are^   for  their  ov/n  tl'oops ;   that    ti.e    oHiccrs   ih-.'.Il    alfo  be 


46a  TREATY  OF  AMITY  AND  COMMERCE. 

daily  fMrnifhed  by  the  party  in  whofe  power  they  are,  v/itH 
as  many  rations,  and  of  the  fame  articles  and  quality  as  arc 
allowed  by  them,  either  in  kind  or  commutation,  to  officer? 
of  equal  rank  in  thfrir  own  army  ;  and  all  others  (hall  be  dai- 
ly furnifhed  by  them  with  fuch  rations  as  they  allow  to  a  com- 
mon foldier  in  their  own  fervice,  the  value  whereof  ^all  be 
paid  by  the  other  party,  on  mutual  adjuftment  of  accounts 
for  the  fuflenance  of  prifoners  at  the  clofe  of  the  war  :  and 
the  faid  accounts  (hall  not  be  mingled  with,  or  fet  off  againft 
any  others,  nor  the  balances  due  on  them  be  withheld  as  a. 
fatisfaftion  or  reprifal  for  any  other  article,  or  for  any  other 
caufe,  real  or  pretended,  whatever  j  that  each  party  ihall  be 
allowed  to  keep  a  commilTary  of  prifoners  of  their  own  ap- 
pointment, wit^  every  feparate  cantonment  of  prifoners  in 
pofleflion  of  the  other;  which  commifTary  fhall  fee  the  pri- 
foners as  often  a$  he  pleafes,  (hall  be  allowed  to  receive  and 
diftribute  whatever  comforts  may  be  fcnt  to  them  by  thei|- 
friends,  and  {hall  be  free  to  make  his  reports  in  open  letters 
to  thofe  who  employ  him  :  but  i^  any  officer  {hall  break  his 
parole,  or  any  other  prifoner  fliall  efcape  from  the  limits  of 
his  cantonment,  after  they  fhall  have  been  defignatcd  to  him, 
fuch  individual  officer  or  other  prifoner  {hall  forfeit  fo  mucl> 
pf  the  benefit  of  this  article,  as  provides  for  his  enlargement 
on  parole  or  cantonment.  And  it  is  declared,  that  neither 
the  pretence  that  war  diffolves  all  treaties,  nor  any  other  what- 
ever, fhall  be  confidered  as  annulling  or  fufpending  this  and 
the  next  preceding  article  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  th^ 
(late  of  war  is  precifely  that  for  which  they  are  provided, 
and  during  which  they  are  to  be  as  facredly  obferved  as^  th^ 
moft   acknowledged   articles    in   the  law   of  nature  or  nations, 

XXV.  The  two  contrafting  parties  grant  to  each  other 
the  liberty  of  having  each  in  the  ports  of  the  other,  confuls, 
vice-cAnluls,  agents,  and  commiflfajies  of  their  own  appoint- 
ment, whofe  funftions  fhall  be  regulated  by  particular  agree- 
ment, whenever  either  party  fhall  choofe  to  make  fuch  ap- 
pointment ;  but  if  any  iuch  confuls  {hall  cxercife  commerce, 
they  {hall  be  fubmitted  to  the  fame  laws  and  ufages  to  vichich 
the  private  individuals  of  their  nation  are  fubmitted  in  the 
fame    place. 

XXVI.  If  either  party  fhall  hereafter  grant  to  any  other 
nation,  any  particular  favour  in  navigation  or  commerce,  it 
fhall  immediately  become  commori  to  the  other  party— free- 
ly, where  it  is  freely  granted,  fo  fuch  other  natior, — .or  on 
yelding   tlu'.-compcnfatJorij  \vhe;e    fuch   nation  does  the   U\n^^ 


tREATY  Ot  AMitY,  COMMERCE,  £lc,  463 

XXVII.  His  Majefty  the  King  of  Pruffia  and  the  Unit- 
<d  States  of  America,  agree  that  this  treaty  fhall  be  in  force 
during  the  term  of  ten  years  from  the  exchange  of  ratifica- 
tions: and  if  the  expiration  of  that  term  fhould  happen  dur- 
ing the  courfe  of  a  war  between  them,  then  the  articles  be- 
fore provided  for  the  regulation  of  their  conduft  during  fuch 
a  war,  fhall  continue  in  force  until  the  conclufion  of  the 
treaty  which  fhall  re-eftabli{h  peace  ;  and  that  this  treaty 
fhall  be  ratified  on  both  fides,  and  the  ratificatiotis  exchanged 
within    one   year  from    the   day  of  its  fignature. 

In  teftimony  whereof,  the  plenipotentiaries  before-men- 
tioned have  hereto  fubfcribed  their  names  and  affixed  their 
feals,  at  the  places  of  their  refpeftive  refidencej  and  at  the 
dates  cxprcffed  under  their  feveral  fignatures. 
F.  G,  dc  Thulcmier,  a  la  Hague,  le  ic  Septembre,  1785.  (L.  S.) 
(L.  S.)  (L.  S.)  (L.  S.) 

T.  JEFFERSON.      B.  FRANKLIN.       J.   ADAMS. 
Paris,  July  28,  Paffy,  July  9,        London,  Aug.   5, 

1785.  1785.  1785. 


TREATY     OF 
AMITY,    COMMERCE  AND    NAVIGATION^ 

BET'.VEEM 

HIS    BRITANNIC     MAJESTY    AND     TH£     ONITRU     STATES 
Of    AMERICA. 

By  their  Prefident,  with  the  advice  and  confent  of  their  Senate, 


H, 


.IS  Britannic  Majefty  and  the  United  States  of  America, 
being  defirous  by  a  Treaty  of  Amity,  Commerce  and  Navi- 
gation, to  terminate  their  differences  in  fuch  a  manner,  as 
without  reference  to  the  tnerits  of  their  refpeftive  complaints 
and  prctenfions,  may  be  the  beft  calculated  to  produce  mutu- 
al fatisfaftion  and  good  underftanding  :  And  alio  to  regulate 
the  Commerce  and   Navigation  between  their  refpeftive  coua- 


464  TREATY  GF    AMITY, 

tries,  terrlforles,  ana  people,  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  rchdct 
the  fame  reciprocally  beneficial  and  fatisfaftory  :  they  have 
jerpe£lively,  named  their  Plenipotentiaries,  and  given  them 
full  powers  to  treat  of,  and  conclude  the  fald  Treaty,  that  is-td 
fayj  his  Britannic  Majefty  has  named  for  his  plenipotentiarv, 
ihe  Right  Hon.  \Vm.  Wyndham  Baron  Grenville  of  Wotton, 
one  of  his  Majcfty's  privy  council,  and  his  Majefly's  principal 
fecretary  of  (late  for  foreign  affairs  ;  and  the  Prefident  of  the 
faid.  United  States,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  confent  of  the 
Senate  thereof,  hath  appointed  for  their  plenipotentiary,  the 
Hon.  John  Jay,  chief  judiee  of  the  faid  United  States,  and 
their  envoy  extraordinary  to  his  M 'jedy,  who  haVe  agreed  on, 
and  concluded  the  following 

ARTICLES: 

Art.  i.  There  Hiall  be  a  firm  inviolable  and  imiverfil  Peace, 
and  a  true  and  finccre  friendfhip  between  his  Britannic  Ma- 
jefly,  his  heirs  and  fucceffors,  and  the  United  Stats  of  Ame- 
rica; and  between  their  refpeftive  countries,  territories,  ci- 
ties, towns  and  people  of  every  degree,  without  exception 
*if  perfons    or  places. 

Art.  2.  His  Majefty  will  withdraw  all  his  troops  and  gar- 
rifons  from  all  pofts  and  places  within  the  boundary  lines  af- 
fitjned  by  the  treaty  of  peace  to  the  United  States,  This  eva- 
cuation Ihall  take  place  on  or  before  the  hvti  day  of  June,  1796, 
and  all  the  proper  meafures  fhall  in  the  interval  be  taken  bv 
concert  between  the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  hiS 
Majefly's  governor  general  in  America,  for  fettling  the  previous 
arrangements  which  may  be  neceflary  refpefting  the  delivery  of 
the  laid  pofts:  the  United  States  in  the  mean  time  at  their  dif- 
cretion  extending  their  fettlements  to  any  part  within  the  faid 
boundary  line,  exce-^-'t  within  tl-.e  precinfts  or  jurifdiftion  of 
any  of  the  faid  pofts.  All  fettlers  and  traders  within  the  pre- 
rir.Qs  or  jurifdiftion  of  the  faid  pofls,  fhall  continue  to  enjoy, 
u-nmolelled,  all  their  property  of  every  kind,  and  (hall  be  pfo- 
le6lcd  therein.  They  fliall  beat  full  liberty  to  remain  there,  or 
to  remove  with  all  or  any  part  of  their  effefls  j  and  it  fhall  alfo 
he  ftec  to  therti  to  fell  their  lands,  houfes,  or  effefts,  or  to  re- 
tain the  property  thereof,  at  their  difcretion  ;  fuch  of  them  a.^ 
fliall  continue  to  refide  within  the  faid  boundary  lines,  fl:iall  not 
be  compelled  to  become'  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  to 
take  any  oalK  oT  allegiance"  to  the  government  thereof,  but 
they  fhall  be  at  full  libertv  fo  to  do,  if  they  think  proper,  and 
they  fhall  makt  and  decUis  theii"  elcftion   within  one  year  after 


COMMERCE  AND  NAVIGATION.  465 

the  evacuation  aforefaid.  And  all  perfons  who  fhall  cohtinuc 
there  after  the  expiration  of  the  faid  year,  without  having 
declared  their  intention  of  remaining  fubjcfts  of  his  Britannic 
Majefty,  fhail  be  conUdered  as  having  elefted  to  become  citizens 
of  the  United  States. 

Art.  3.  It  is  agreed  that  it  {hall  at  all  time*  be  free  to  his 
Majefty's  fubjefts,  and  to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and 
alfo  to  the  Indians  dwelling  on  either  fide  of  the  faid  boundary 
line,  freely  to  pafs  and  repafs  by  land  or  inland  navigation,  into 
Che  refpeftive  territories  and  countries  of  the  two  parties  on  the 
continent  of  America  [the  country  within  the  limits  of  the 
Hudfon's  Bay  Company  only  excepted^  and  to  navigate  all  the 
.lakes,  rivers,  and  waters  thereofj  and  freely  to  carry  on  trade 
and  commerce  with  each  other.  But  it  is  M^nderftood,  that  this 
article  does  not  extend  to  the  admilTion  of  vefTels  of  the  United 
States  into  the  fea  ports,  harbours,  bays  or  creeks  of  his  Majef- 
ty's  laid  territories;  nor  into  fuch  parts  of  the  rivers  in  his 
Majefty's  faid  territories  as  are  between  the  mouth  thereofj  and 
the  higheft  port  of  entry  from  the  fea,  except  in  fmall  veffcls 
trading  bona  fidt  between  Montreal  and  Quebec,  under  fuch  re- 
gulations as  ihall  be  ellablilhed  to  prevent  the  pofTibility  of  any 
/rauds  in  this  refpeS.  Nor  to  the  admilTion  of  Britifh  veffels 
from  the  fea  into  the  rivers  of  the  United  States,  beyond  the 
higheft  ports  of  entry  for  foreign  veffels  from  the  fea.  The 
river  Miluffippi  fliall,  however,  according  to  the  treaty  o^ 
peace,  be  entirely  open  to  both  parties  ;  and  it  is  furthej-  agreed^ 
that  all  the  ports  and  places  on  its  ea Hern  fide,  to  which  foever 
of  the  parties  belonging,  m»y  freely  be  reflored  to,  and  ufed  by 
both  parties,  in  as  ample  a  manner  as  any  of  the  Atlantic  porta 
or  places  pf  the. United  States,  or  any  of  the  ports  or  places  of 
jhis  Majefty  in  Great-Britain, 

All  goods  and  merchandifes  v/hofe  importation  into  his, 
Majefty *s  faid  terri^^ories  in  America,  (hall  not  be  entirely  pro- 
hibited, may  freely,  for  the  purpoles  of  commerce,  be  <;arried 
into  the  fame  in  the  manner  pfoielaid,  by  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  and  luch  goods  and  merchandife  fhall  be  (ubjefl 
to  no  higher  or  other  duties  than  would  be  payable  by  his  IVIifjef" 
ty's  fubjefts  on  .the  importation  of  the  fame  from  Europe  into 
the  faid  territories.  And  in  like  manner,  all  goods  and  met- 
chandifes  whole  importytion  into  the  United  States  Ihall  not  be 
wholly  prohibited,  may  be  freely,  for  the  purpoles  of  con)- 
mcrce,  be  carried  into  the  lame,  in  the  manner  aforelaid,  by 
.his  Majefty's  fubjefts,  and  fuch  goods  and  merchandile  fhall  be 
.fubjeft  tp  no  higher  or  other  duties  than  would  be   payable   b)* 

3O 


46^  TREATY  Of  AMITY, 

the  citizens  of  the  United  States  on  the  importation  of  the  faftic, 
in  American  vefTels,  into  the  Atlantic  ports  of  the  ("aid  Statefo 
And  all  goods  not  prohibited,  to  be  exported  from  the  faid 
territories,  reCpeftivefy,  may  in  like  manner  be  carried  out  of 
the  fame  by  the   two  parties   refpeftively,  paying  duty  as  aforc- 

No  duty  oi  e'ntry  fhaH  ever  be  levied  by  either  party  on 
peltries  brought  by  land,  or  inland  navigation  into  the  faid 
territories  refpeftively,  nor  fhall  the  Indians  paflrng  or  re-paff- 
ing  with  their  own  proper  goods  and  effefts  of  whatever. 
But  goods  in  bales,  or  other  large  packages  uiiufual  among 
Indians,  fhall  not  be  confidered  as  goods  belonging  bona  Jids 
fo  Indian?. 

No  higher  or  other  tolls  or  rates  of  ferriage  than  what 
are  or  fhall  be  payable  by  natives,  Ihall  be  demanded  on  ei- 
ther fide  ;  and  no  duties  fhall  be  payable  on  any  goods  which 
fhall  merely  be  carried  over  any  of  the  portages  or  carry- 
ing places  on  either  fide,  for  the  purpofe  of  being  immedi- 
ately re-imbarked  and  carried  to  fome  other  place  or  places. 
Bat  as  by  this  ftipulation  it  is  only  meant  to  fecure  to  each 
party  a  free  pafTage  acrofs  the  portages  on  both  fides,  it  is 
agreed,  that  this  exemption  from  duty  fhall  extend  only  to 
fuch  goods  as  are  carried  in  the  ufual  and  direft  road  acrofs 
the  portage,  and  are  not  attempted  to  be  in  any  manner  fold  or 
exchanged  during  the  palTjge  acrofs  the  fame-,  and  proper  regu- 
lations cftabliflied  to  prevent  the  poflTibility  of  any  frauds  in 
this  relpeft. 

As  this  article  is  intended  t6  render  in  a  great  degree  the 
\otz\  advantages  of  each  party  common  to  both,  and  thereby  to 
|)romote  a  djfpofition  favorable  to  friendfhip  and  good  neigh* 
borhood,  it  is  agreed,  that  the  refpeftive  governments  will  mu* 
tually  proinote  this  amicable  entercourfe,  by  caufing  fpccdy  and 
impartial  julliee  to  be  done,  and  neccffary  proteftion  to  be  ex- 
tended to   all   who  may   be    concerned  therein. 

Art,  4.  Whereas  it  is  uncertain  whether  tht  river  MifTiffippi 
extends  (o  far  to  the  northward  as  to  be  interfefted  by  a  line  to 
be  drawn  due  weft  from  the  lake  of  the  woods  in  the  manner 
mentioned  in  the  treaty  of  peace  between  his  Majcfty.  and  the 
United  Sctites,  it  is  agreed,  thsitmcalures  fhall  be  taken  in  concert 
with  bis  Mnjcfty's  government  in  America,  ar.d  the  government  of 
the  Un'.led  States,  for  making  a  joint  furvey  of  the  laid  river  from 
one  degree  of  latitude  below  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony  to  the  prin- 
cipal fource  or  fources  of  the  laid  river,  and  alfo  of  the  parts  adja- 
cent thereto;  and  that  if  on  the  refult  of  fuch  furvey,  it  fhould  ap- 
pear that  the  faid  river  would  not  be  interfc6led  by  fuch  a  line  as 


COMMERCE    4NP   NAVIGATION.  467 

Is  above  mentioned,  the  two  parties  will  thereupon  proceed  by- 
amicable  negociation  to  regulate  the  boundary  line  in  that 
quarter,  as  well  as  all  other  points  to  be  adjufted  between 
,  :the  faid  parties,  according  to  juftice  and  mucual  convenience, 
and  in  conformity  to  the  intent  of  the  faid  treaty. 

Art.  5.  Whereas  doubts  have  arifen  what  river  was  truly 
intended  under  the  name  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  mentioned  in 
the  faid  treaty  of  Peace,  and  forming  a  part  of  the  boundary 
therein  defcribed,  that  queftion  fliall  be  referred  to  the  final 
dccifion  of  Commiffioners  to  be  appointed  in  the  following 
manner,  viz. 

One  CommifiTioner  fliall  be  named  by  his  Majefty  and  one  by 
the  Prefident  of  the  United  States,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
confent  of  the  Senate  thereof,  and  the  faid  two  commifiTioners 
fliall  agree  on  the  choice  of  a  third  ;  or  if  they  cannot  fo  agree, 
they  fhall  each  propofe  one  perfon,  and,  of  the  two  names  fo 
propofed,  one  fhall  be  drawn  by  lot  in  the  prefence  of  the  two 
original  commifiloners.  And  the  three  commiffioners  fo  ap- 
pointed, Ihall  be  fworn  impajrtially  to  examine  and  decide  the 
faid  quelUon  accerding  to  fuch  evidence  as  fhall  refpeflively  be 
Jaid  before  them  on  the  part  of  the  Britifli  government  and  of 
the  United  Stales,  The  faid  commiilioners  fhall  meet  at  Halifax 
and  fhall  have  power  to  adjourn  to  fuch  other  place  or  places  as 
they  (hall  think  fit.  They  fliall  have  power  to  appoint  a  fecreta- 
ry,  and  to  employ  fuch  furveyors  or  other  perfons  as  they  fliall 
judge  neceffary.  "jThe  faid  commiffioners  fhall  "by  a  declaration 
under  their  hands  and  feals  decide  what  river  is  the  river  St. 
Croix  intended  by  the  treaty.  The  faid  declaration  fliall  con- 
tain a  defcription  of  the  faid  river,  and  (hall  particularife  the 
latitude  and  longitude  of  its  mouth  and  its  fource.  Pupl.icate^ 
of  this  declaration  and  of  the  ftat^ments  of  their  accounts  and 
of  the  journal  of  their  proceeding  fliall  be  delivered  by  them  to 
the  agent  of  his  Majefty  and  to  the  agent  of  the  United  States, 
who  may  be  refpeftively  appointed  and  authorifed  to  manage 
the  bufinefs  on  behalf  of  the  refpcftive  governments.  And 
both  parties  agree  to  conftder  fuch  deciiion  as  final  and  conclu- 
five,  fo  that  the  fame  fliall  never  thereafter  be  called  into  quef- 
tion,  or  made  the  fubjeft  of  difpute  or  difference  between  them. 

Art.  6.  Whereas  it  is  alledged  by  divers  Britifh  merchants 
and  others  his  Majefty's  lubjefts,  that  debts  to  a  confiderabie 
amount^  which  were  bonajide  contrafted  before  the  peace,  ftili 
remaining  owing  to  them  by  citizens  or  inhabitants  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  and  that  by  the  operation  of  various  lawful  impedi- 
fnents  fince   the   peace,  not  only  the  full  lecovery  of  the  faitj 

3  O  2 


468  TREATY  0  F   AMITY, 

debts  has  been  delayed,  but  alfo  the  value  and  fecurity  tljcrcof 
hzrvc  been,  in  feveral  inflances  impaired  and  kflened,  fo  that 
by  the  ordinary  courfe  of  judicial  proceedings,  the  British 
creditors  cannot  now  obtain,  and  atlually  have  and  receive  full 
and  adequate  compenfation  for  the  lolTes  and  damages  which  they 
have  thereby  (uftained  :  It  is  agreed,  that  in  sU  fuch  cafes  where 
full  compenration  for  fuch  lofTes  and  damages  cannot  for  what- 
ever reafon  be  aftually  obtained,  had  and  received  by  the  faid 
creditors  in  tlie  ordinary  courfe  of  jullice,  the  United  States 
will  make  full  and  complete  compenfation  for  the  fame  to  the 
faid  creditors  :  but  it  is  diftinftly  underftood,  that  this  provifion 
is  to  extend  to  fuch  lofles  only  as  have  been  occafioned  by  th? 
lawful  impediments  aforelaid,  a;id  is  not  to  extend  to  loffes.ocT 
cafioned  by  fuch  infolvency  of  the  debtors,  or  other  caufes  as 
would  equally  have  operated  to  produce  fuch  lofs,  if  the  faid 
impediments  had  not  exifted,  nor  to  fuch  loffes  or  damages  as 
have  been  occar;oned  by  the  manifefl  delay  or  negligence,  or 
wilful  omiffion  of  the  claimant. 

For  the  purpofe  of  afcertaining  the  amount  of  any  fuch  loffes 
and  damages,  five  commilTioners  fliall  be  appointed,  and  authorif- 
ed  to  meet  and  aft  in  manner  following,  viz.  Two  of  them  fhall 
be  appointed  by  his  Majefly,  two  of  tliein  by  the  Prefident  of 
the  United  States,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  confci  t  of  the  Sc»j 
nate  thereof,  and  the  fifth  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  other 
four;  and  if  they  (hould  not  agree  in  fuch  choice,  then  the  com- 
miffionecs  named  by  the  two  parties  fliall  refpeftively  propofc 
one  perion,  and  of  the  two  names  fo  propoled,  one  {hall  be 
drawn  by  lot  in  the  preience  of  the  foir  original  commiffioners. 
When  the  five  conimifiionevs  thus  appointed  fliall  firll  meet, 
they  fliall  before  they  proceed  to  aft  relpeftively  take  the  follow- 
ing oaih  or  afiirmation,  in  the  preience  of  each  other,  which 
oatii  or  a0irmation  being  io  taken,  and  duly  attefled,  fliall  be 
entered  on  the  record  of  their  proceedings,  viz.  I,  A.  B.  one 
of  the  comuiiliioners  appointed  in  purluance  of  the  fixtli  article 
of  the  treaty  of  amity,  commerce,  and  navigation  between  his 
Britannic  Majefly,  and  the  United  States  of  America,  do  lolemiv 
ly  Iwcar,  or  athim,  that  1  will  honeltly,  diligently,  impartially, 
and  carefully  examine,  according  to  juftice  and  equity,  decide 
all  fuch  complaints  as  under  the  laid  article  fliall  be  preferred  to 
the  laid  cuinmiflioners  ;  and  that  I  will  forbear  to  aft  as  a  com- 
miflioner  in  any  cale  in  which  I   may  be  perionally  inlerefted. 

Three  of  the  faid  commiflioners  fliall  conflitute  a  board,  and 
fliall  have  power  to  do  any  a6l  appertaining  to  the  faid  com> 
iniiiiop,  provided  that  one  of  the  commiflioners  named  on  each 


COMMERCE  AND  KAVIGATIO^.  469 

^de,  and  the  fifth  commiflloner  fhall  be  prefent,  and  all  deci- 
fions  {hall  be  made  by  the  majority  of  the  voices  of  the  com. 
piiflioners  then  prefent ;  eighteen  months  from  the  day  on  which 
the  faid  commiffioners  fhall  form  a  board,  and  be  ready  to  pro« 
ceed  to  bulinefs,  are  afligned  for  receiving  complaints,  and 
applications;  but  they  are  nevcrthelefs  authoriied  in  any  parti- 
cular cafes  in  which  it  fhall  appear  to  them  to  be  reaionablc  and 
juft,  to  extend  the  faid  term  of  eighteen  months  for  any  term 
not  exceeding  fix  months,  after  the  expiration  thereof.  The 
faid  commiflioners  fhall  firft  meet  at  Philadelphia,  but  they  fhall 
have  power  to  adjourn  from  place  to  place  as  they  fhall  fee 
caufe. 

The  faid  commiflioners  in  examining  the  complaints  and  appli« 
cations  fo  preferred  to  them,  are  empowered  and  required,  ia 
purfuance  of  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  this  article,  to 
take  into  their  confideration  all  claims,  whether  of  principal  and 
intereft,  or  balances  of  principal  and  intereft,  and  to  determine 
the  fame  refpeftively  according  to  the  merits  of  the  feveral  cales, 
due  regard  being  had  to  all  the  circumftances  thereof,  and  as 
equity  and  juflice  fhall  appear  to  them  to  require.  And  the 
faid  commiflioners  fhall  have  power  to  examine  all  fuch  perfons 
as  {hall  come  before  them  on  oath  or  alfirmation  or  books,  or 
papers,  or  copies,  or  extrafts  thereof,  every  fuch  depofition, 
book,  or  paper,  or  extra6l  bejiig  duly  authenticated,  either  ac- 
*Cording  to  the  legal  forms  now  refpeftively  exifting  in  the  two 
Countries,  or  in  fuch  other  manner  as  the  faid  commifTioncrs 
Ihall  fee  caufe  to  require  or  allow. 

The  award  of  the  iaid  commiffioners  or  of  any  three  of  them 
as  aforefaid,  fhall  in  all  cafes  be  final  and  conclufive,  both  as  to 
the  juflice  of  the  claim,  and  to  the  amount  of  the  lum  to  be 
paid  to  the  creditor  or  claimant :  and  the  United  States  under- 
take to  caufe  the  fum  lo  awarded  to  be  paid  in  fpecie  to  luch 
creditor  or  claimant  with  deduftion  ;  and  at  fuch  time  or  times, 
and  at  fuch  place  or  places  as  fhall  be  awarded  by  the  laid  com- 
jnifTioners  ;  and  on  condition  of  luch  reieafes  or  alignments  to 
be  given  by  the  creditor  of  claimant,  as  by  the  faid  commif* 
fioners  may  be  direfted  ;  provided  always,  that  no  luch  payment 
fhall  be  fixed  by  the  laid  commiffioners  to  take  place  fooncr  than 
twelve  months  from  the  day  of  the  exchange  of  the  ratifica- 
tions of  this  treaty. 

Art.  7.  Whereas  Complaints  have  been  made  by  divers  mer- 
chants and  other,  citizens  of  the  United  States,-  that  during 
the  courfe  of  the  war  in  which  his  Majefty  is  now  engjged, 
?hey  have  fuftained  confiderable  loffes  and  damage,  by  reaion 


4^9  TREATY  OF  AMITY, 

cf  irregular  or  illegal  captures  or  condemnations  of  their  vefr 
fels  and  other  property  under  colour  of  authority  or  commiC 
fions  from  his  Majefty,  and  that  from  various  circumflances 
belonging  to  the  faid  cafes,  adequate  compenfation  for  the  loITcs 
and  damages  fo  fuftained  cannot  now  be  actually  obtained* 
had  and  received  by  the  or  linary  courfe  of  judicial  proceed- 
ings :  it  it  agreed,  that  in  all  fuch  caJes  were  adexjuate  com- 
penfation cannot,  for  whatever  reafon,  be  now  aftually  ob- 
tained, had  and  received  by  faid  merchants  and  others  in  the 
ordinary  courfe  of  juftice,  full  and  complete  compenfation  for 
the  fame  will  be  made  by  the  Britifh  government  to  the  faid 
complainants.  But  it  is  diflinftly  underftood  that  this  provi- 
f\on  is  not  to  extend  to  fuch  loffes  or  damages  as  have  been 
occafloned  by  the  manifefl  delay  or  negligence,  or  wilful  omif- 
fion  of  the  claimants. 

That  for  the  purpofe  of  afcertaing  the  amount  of  any  fuch 
Joffes  and  damages,  6ve  comminioners  (hall  be  appointed  and 
authorifed  to  aft  in  London,  exaftly  in  the  manner  direfted  with 
lefpeft  to  thofe  mentioned  in  the  preceding  article,  and  after 
having  taken  the  fame  oath  or  alRrmation  [mjitatis  viutandis)  the 
fame  term  of  eighteen  months  is  alfo  afTigned  for  the  receptiori 
of  claims,  and  they  are  ip  J  ike  manner  authorifed  to  extend  the 
fame  in  particular  cafes,  Tljsy  (hall  receive  teftirnony,  books, 
papers  and  evidence  in  the  fame  latitude,  and  exercife  the  like 
dilcretion  and  powers  refpc,£ling  that  fubjeft  ;  apd  (hall  decide 
ihe  claims  in  queftion  according  to  the  merits  of  the  feveral 
cafes,  and  to  juftice,  equity,  and  the  laws  of  nations.  7  he  award 
of  the  commifTioners,  or  any  fuch  three  of  them  as  aforefaid, 
fhall,  in  all  caies  be  final  and  conclufive,  both  as  to  the  juftice  of 
the  claim,  and  the  amount  of  the  fum  to  be  paid  to  the  claimant  ; 
and  his  Britannic  Majefty  undertakes  to  caufe  the  f^me  to  bg 
paid  to  fuch  claimant  in  Ipecie,  without  any  deduftion,  at  fuch 
place  or  places,  and  at  fuch  time  or  times  as  fhall  be  awarded  by 
the  faid  commiluoners,  and  on  condition  of  fuch  relcafes  or  afr 
lignments  to  be  given  by  the  claimants,  as  by  the  laid  commif- 
iioners  may  be  direfted. 

And  whereas  certain  merchants  and  others  his  Majefty's  fub- 
je6ls  complain  that  in  the  courfe  of  the  war  they  have  iuftained 
lofs  and  damage  by  reafon  of  the  capture  of  the  velfcls  and 
merchandife  taken  within  the  limits  and  juriidiftion  of  the 
States,  and  brought  into  the  ports  of  the  lame,  or  taken  by  vef- 
fels  originally  armed  in  ports  of  the  faid  States. 

It  is  agreed  that  in  all  fuch  cafes  where  reftitution  (hall  rot 
have   been    made  agreeably   to   the  tenor  of  the  letter  from  Mr, 


COMMERCE  AND  NAVIGATION,  qp 

Jefferfon  to  Mr.  Hammond,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  Sept.  5,  1^93, 
a  copy  of  which  is  annexed  to  this  treaty  ;  the  complaints  of 
the  parties  (hall  be  and  hereby  are  referred  to  the  commiflioners 
to  be  appointed  by  virtue  of  this  arti;  le,  who  are  hereby  au- 
thorifed  and  required  to  proceed  in'the  like  manner  relative  to 
thefe  as  to  the  other  cafes  committed  to  them  ;  and  the  tJnited 
States  undertake  to  pay  to  the  complainants  or  claimants  in  fpe- 
cie,  without  deduftion,  the  amount  of  fuch  fums  as  fhall  be 
awarded  to  them  refpeftively  by  the  faid  commifiioners,  andal 
the  times  and  places  which  in  fuch  awards  fhall  be  fpecified  ;  and 
on  conditions  of  fuch  releafes  or  affignments  to  be  given  by  the 
claimants  as  in  the  faid  award  may  be  direfted  :  and  it  is  further 
agreed  that  not  only  the  now  exifling  cafes  of  both  defcriptions 
but  alfo  all  fuch  as  fhall  exift  at  the  time  of  exchanging  tha 
ratifications  of  this  treaty,  fhall  be  confidered  within  the  provi- 
fions,  intent  and  meaning  of  this  article. 

Art.  8.  It  is  further  agreed,  that  the  comminioners  mentioned 
in  the  two  preceding  articles  fhall  be  refpeftively  paid  in  fuch 
Itianner  as  fhall  be  agreed  between  the  two  parties  ;  fuch  agree- 
ment being  to  be  fettled  at  the  time  of  the  exchange  of  the  ratifi- 
cation of  this  treaty.  And  all  other  expences  attending  the  faid 
Commilfions  fhall  be  defrayed  jointly  by  the  two  parties,  the 
fame  being  previoufly  afcertained  and  allowed  by  the  majority 
of  the  commiffioners.  And  in  the  cafe  of  death,  ficknefs  or 
neceffary  abfence,  the  place  of  every  fuch  commiffioncr  refpec- 
tively  fhall  be  fupplied  in  the  fame  manner  as  fuch  commiflioner 
was  appointed,  and  the  new  commifTioner  fhall  take  the  fame 
Oath  or  affirmation  and  do  the  fame  duties. 

Art.  g.  It  is  agreed  that  Britifh  fubjefts  who  now  hold  lands 
in  the  territories  of  the  United  States,  and  American  citizens 
Avho  now  hold  lands  in  the  dominions  of  his  Majefly  fhall  con- 
tinue to  hold  them  according  to  the  nature  and  tenure  of  their 
refpeftive  ftates  and  titles  therein ;  and  may  grant,  fell,  dr  devife 
the  fame  to  whom  they  pleafe,  in  like  manner  as  if  they  were 
natives  ;  and  that  neither  they  nor  their  heirs  or  afiigns  fhall  fo 
far  as  may  refpeft  the  faid  lands  and  the  legal  remedies  incident 
thereto,  be  regarded  as  aliens. 

Art.  10.  Neither  the  debts  due  from  individuals  of  tlie  one 
nation,  to  individuals  of  the  other,  nor  fharcs  nor  monies  which 
they  may  have  in  the  public  funds,  or  in  the  public  or  private 
banks  fhall  ever  in  any  event  of  war  or  national  differences  be 
i'cqueflered  or  confifcated,  it  being  unjuft  and  impolitic  that 
debts  and  engagements  contraftcd  and  made  by  individnals  liav- 


4ii  TREATY  OF    AMITY, 

ing  confidence  in  each  other,  and  in  their  refpcftive  governments 
fhould  ever  bs  deftroyed  or  impaired  by  national  authority  on 
account  of  national  differences  and  difcontents. 

Alt.  11.  It  is  agreed  between  his  Majefty  and  the  United 
States  of  America,  that  there  {Kail  be  a  reciprocal  aud  entirely 
pcrfeft  liberty  of  navigation  and  commerce  between  their  re- 
fpeftive  people,  in  the  manner,  under  the  limitations  and  on 
the  conditions  fpecified  in  the  following  articles. 

*  Art.  i?..  Plis  Mnjefty  confents  that  it  fhall  and  may  be 
lawful  during  the  time  herein  after  limited  for  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States  to  carry  to  any  of  his  Majefty's  iflands  and 
ports  in  the  Weft-Indies  from  the  United  States,  in  their  own 
vslTels,  not  being  above  the  burthen  of  feventy  tons,  any  goods 
or  merchandifes  being  of  the  growth,  manufacture  or  produce 
of  the  faid  States,  which  it  is  or  may  be  lawful  to  carry  to  the 
faid  iflinds  or  ports  from  the  faid  States  in  Britilh  vedels  ;  and 
that  the  faid  American  veffels  fnall  be  fubjeft  there  to  no  othef 
or  higher  tonnage  duties  or  charges  than  fhall  be  payable  by 
Britifh  vciTeh  in  the  ports  of  the  United  States  ;  and  that  the 
cargoes  of  the  faid  American  veffels  Ihall  be  fubjeft  there  to  no 
other  or  higher  duties  or  charges  than  ftiall  be  payable  on  the 
like  articles  if  imported  there  from  the  faid  States  in  Britifh 
vefTels. 

And  his  Majefly  alfo  confents  that  it  fhall  be  lawful  for  the 
faid  American  citizens  to  purchafe,  load  and  carry  away  ia 
their  faid  vcifcls  to  the  United  States  from  the  laid  iflands 
and  ports  all  fuch  articles  being  of  the  growth,  manufafture 
or  produce  of  the  faid  iflands  as  may  now  by  law  be  carried 
from  thence  to  the  faid  States  in  Britifh  veffels  and  iubjeft  only 
to  the  fame  duties  and  charges  on  exportation,  to  which  Bri- 
tifh vefTels  and  their  cargoes  are  or  fhall  be  fubjeft  in  fimiUr 
circumflances. 

*  CONDITIONAL  RATIFICATION,   on  the  part  of  the  United 
States,  in  Senat?,  June  24,  1795- 

Refolved,  that  the  Senate  do  confent  to,  and  advife  the  Prefident  of  th< 
United  States  to  ratify  the  treaty  of  amity,  commcrr.e  and  navigation,  be- 
tween his  Britannic  Majefty  and  the  United  States  of  America,  concluded 
at  Ivondon,  the  -.gth  November,  1794,  on  condition  that  there  be  added  to 
the  faid  treaty,  and  article  -whereby  it  fhall  be  agreed  to  fufpcnd  fo  much 
of  the  12th  article,  as  fefpefla  the  trade,  which  his  faid  Majefty  thereby 
confents  may  be  carried  on  between  the  United  States  and  his  Iflands  in 
the  Weft'Indies,  in  the  manner,  and  on  the  terras  and  conditions  therein 
i'pecificd. 

And  the  Senate  recommend  to  the  Prefident  to  proceed  without  delay 
to  further  friendly  negociations  with  his  Majefly  on  the  fubjcft  pf  the  faid 
trade,  and  of  the  terms  and  conditions  in  quelljon. 


C 0 MM£ RC 'E  AND  NA  VIGA  Tl 0 N.  473 

Provided  always  that  the  faid  American  veffels  do  carry  and 
iand  their  cargoes  in  the  United  States  only,  it  being  exptcfsly 
agreed  and  declared  thai  durir^g  the  continuance  of  this  article, 
the  United  States  will  prohibit  and  rcftrain  the  carrying  any 
molaffes,  lugar,  coffee,  cocoa  or  cotton  in  American  veffels^ 
either  from  his  M.ijefty's  iflands  or  from  the  United  States  to 
any  part  of  the  world  ejicept  the  United  States,  reafonable  fea. 
ftorcs  excepted.  Provided  alfo,  that  it  fhall  and  may  be  law- 
fal,  daring  the  fame  period,  for  Britilh  veirds  to  import  from 
the  faid  iilands  into  the  United  States,  and  to  export  from  the 
United  States  to  the  faid  illands,  all  articles  whatever  being  of 
the  growth,  produce  or  manufafture  of  the  faid  iflands,  or  of 
the  United  States  refpeftively,  which  now  may,  by  the  laws 
of  the  faid  States,  be  fo  imported  and  exported.  And  that 
the  cargoes  of  the  faid  Britidi  veffels  fliall  be  fubjeft  to  no 
other  or  higher  duties  or  charges,  than  flauU  be  payable  on  the 
iame  articles,  if  fo  imported  or  exported  in  American  veffels. 

It  is  agreed  that  this  article  and  eve-ry  matter  and  thing  there- 
in contained  fhall  continue  to  be  in  force  during  the  continuance 
of  the  war,  in  which  his  Majefly  is  now  engaged  ;  and  alfo  for 
two  years  from  and  after  the  day  of  the  fignature  of  the  pre- 
liminary or  other  articles  of  peace  by  which  the  lame  may  be 
terminated, 

•  And  it  is  further  agreed,  that  at  the  expiration  of  the  faid 
term,  the  two  contr;i6iing  parties  will  endeavour  further  to  re- 
gulate their  commerce  in  this  refpeft,  according  to  the  lituation 
in  which  his  Majefty  may  then  find  himfelf  with  relpe6l  to  the 
Weft-Indies,  and  with  a  view  to  fuch  arrangements  as  may  belt 
conduce  to  the  mutual  advantage  and  extenfion  of  commerce. 
And  the  faid  parties  will  then  alio  renew  their  difcuffions,  and 
endeavour  to  agree,  whether  in  any  and  what  cales,  neuiral 
veileis  fhall  proteft  enemy's  property  ;  and  in  what  cales  provi- 
fions  and  other  articles,  not  generally  contraband,  may  become 
fuch.  But  in  the  mean  time  their  conduft  tovv-ardi  each  other 
in  theie  refpe^s,  fhall  be  regulated  by  the  articles  herein  after 
iiiferted  on  thole  fubjefts. 

Art.  13,  His  Majefty  confents  that  the  veffels  belonging  to 
tiie  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  America,  fliall  be  admitted 
and  holpitably  received  in  all  the  fea  ports  and  haibours  of  the 
Biitilli  territories  in  the  Eaft-lndies,  And  that  the  citizens  of 
the  i^id  United  States  may  freely  carry  on  a  trsde  between  the 
faid  territories  and  tiie  faid  United  States,  in  all  articles,  of 
which'  the  importation  or  exportation  refpeftively  to  or  from 
the   laid  lemtoiies,  fhill  not  entirely  '         -.hilbited.     Provided 


474  TREATY  OF   AMITY, 

only  that  it  fhall  not  be  lawful  for  them  in  any  time  of  wzr 
between  the  Briiifh  government  and  any  other  power  or  ftatc 
whatever,  to  export  from  the  faid  territories,  without  the  fpc- 
cial  permillion  of  the  Bfitifh  government  there,  any  military 
ftores  or  naval  ftores  or  rice.  The  citizens  of  the  United 
States  fhall  pay  for  their  veffels  when  admitted  into  the  iaid 
ports  no  other  or  higher  tonnage  duty  than  fhall  be  payable  on 
Britifli  vefTels  when  admitted  into  the  ports  of  the  United 
States.  And  they  {hall  pay  no  other  or  higher  duties  or  charged 
on  the  importation  or  exportation  of  the  cargoes  of  the  laid 
veffels,  than  Ihali  bs  payable  on  the  fame  articles  when  im- 
ported or  exported  in  Bntifli  veffels.  But  it  is  exprefsly  agreed, 
that  the  veflTels  of  the  United  States  fhall  not  carry  any  of  the 
articles  exported  by  them  from  the  faid  Britifh  territories  to  any 
port  or  place  except  to  fome  port  or  place  in  America,  where 
the  fame  fliall  be  unladen,  and  iuch  regulations  fhall  be  adopted 
by  both  parties,  as  Ihall  fi  om  time  to  time  be  found  neceffary 
to  enforce  the  due  and  faithful  obfervance  of  this  ftipulation. 
It  is  alfo  under  flood  that  the  permiflion  granted  by  this  article 
is  not  to  extend  to  allow  the  veffels  of  the  United  States  to 
carry  on  any  part  of  the  coafting  trade  of  the  faid  Britifh  ter- 
ritories ;  but  veffels  going  with  their  original  cargoes,  or  part 
thereof,  from  one  port  of  difcharge  to  another  are  not  to  be 
confidered  as  carrying  on  the  coafting  trade.  Neither  is  this 
article  to  be  conflltuted  to  allow  the  citizens  of  the  faid  States 
to  fettle  or  refide  within  the  laid  territories,  or  to  go  into  the 
interior  paus  thereof,  without  the  permiflion  of  the  Britifh 
government  eflablifhed  there  ;  and  if  any  tranfgrefTion  fhould 
be  attempted  againfh  the  regulations  of  the  Britifh  go- 
vernment in  thij»  relpeft,  the  obfervance  of  the  fame  fhaii 
and  may  be  enforced  againfl  the  citizens  of  America  in  the 
fame  manner  as  againfl  Britifh  fubjefts  or  others  tranfgrefling 
the  fame  rule.  And  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  when- 
ever they  arrive  in  any  port  or  harbor  in  the  faid  territories,  or 
if  they  fhould  be  permitted  in  manner  aforelaid,  to  go  to  any 
other  place  therein  fhall  always  be  fubjeft  to  the  laws,  govern- 
ment and  jurildiftion  of  what  nature  eflablifhed  in  fuch  har- 
bor, port  or  place,  according  as  the  fame  may  be  ;  the  citizens 
of  the  United  Stales,  may  alfo  touch  for  refrefhment  at  the 
illand  of  St,  Helena,  but  fubjeft  in  all  refpefts  to  fuch  regula- 
tions as  the  Britifli  government  may  from  time  to  time  eitablifh 
there. 

Art.  14.  There  fhall  be  between  all  the  dominions  of  his 
Majefly  in  Europe  and  the  territories  of  the  United  States  a 
reciprocal  and  perfeft  liberty  of  commerce  and  navigation.    The 


[COMMERCE  AND  NAVIGATION.  475 

people  and  inhabitants  of  the  two  countries  refpeftively  fhall 
have  liberty  freely  and  fecurely  and  without  hinlrance  and 
moleftation  to  come  with  their  fhtps  and  cargoes  to  the  lands, 
countries,  cities,  ports,  places  and  rivers  within  the  dominions 
and  territories  aforefaid,  to  enter  into  the  fame,  to  refort  there 
and  to  remain  and  reiide  there,  without  any  limitation  of  time  : 
and  alfo  to  hire  and  poffefs  houfes  and  warehoufes  for  the  pur- 
pofes  of  their  commerce,  and  generally  the  merchants  and  tra- 
ders on  each  fide  {hall  enjoy  the  moft  complete  proteftion  and 
fecurity  for  their  commerce  ;  but  fubjeO:  always  as  to  what  ref- 
pefts  this  article  to  the  laws  and  flatutes  of  the  two  countries 
refpeftively. 

Art,  15.  It  is  agreed  that  no  other  or  higher  duties  fhall  be 
paid  by  the  Ihips  or  merchandife  of  the  one  party  in  the  ports 
of  the  other,  than  fuch  as  are  paid  by  the  like  veffels  or  mer- 
chandife of  all  other  nations.  Nor  fhall  any  other  or  higher 
duty  be  impoted  in  one  country  on  the  impoxtation  of  any  ar- 
ticles the  growth,  produce  or  manufa£lure  of  the  other  than  are 
or  fliall  be  payable  on  the  importation  of  the  like  articles  being 
of  the  growth,  produce  or  manufafture  of  any  other  foreign 
country.  Nor  fhall  any  prohibition  be  impofed  on  the  exporta- 
tion or  importation  of  any  articles  to  or  from  the  territories  of 
the  two  parties  refpe^ively,  which  fliall  not  ecjually  extend  to 
all  other  nations. 

But  the  Britifh  government  referves  to  itfelf  the  right  of  im- 
pohng  on  American  veffels  entering  into  the  Britifh  ports  in 
Europe  a  tonnage  duty  equal  to  that  which  fhall  be  payable  by 
Britifh  veffels  in  the  ports  of  America  :  and  alfo  fuch  duty 
as  may  be  adequate  to  countervail  the  difference  of  duty  now 
payable  on  the  importation  of  European  and  Afiatic  goods  when 
imported  into  the  United  States  in  Britifh  or  in  American 
veffels. 

The  two  parties  agree  to  treajt:  for  the  mere  eKa£l  equalizatiorj 
of  the  duties  on  the  refpeftlve  navigation  of  their  fubjefts  and 
people  in  fuch  manner  as  may  be  mofl  beneficial  to  the  two 
countries.  The  arrangements  for  this  purpofe  fhall  be  made  at 
the  fame  time  with  thofe  mentioned  at  the  conclufion  of  the 
1  2th  article  of  this  treaty,  and  are  to  be  conndered  as  a  part 
thereof.  In  the  interval  it  is  agreed,  that  the  United  States 
will  not  impofe  any  new  or  additional  tonnage  duties  on  Britifli 
veffels,  nor  increaie  the  now  lubfifl'mg  difference  between  the 
duties  payable  on  the  importation  of  any  article  in  Britifh  or  in 
American  veffels. 

Art,  16,  It  fhall  be  free  for  the  two  contrafting  parties,  ref- 
peftively to  appoint  conful?  for  the  protc6lio.n  of  trade,  to  refide 


476  TREATY  01     A,  M  I  T  1\ 

in  the  dominions  and  territories  aforefaid,  and  the  faid  confulf 
fhall  enjoy  thole  liberties  and  rights  which  belong  to  them  by 
reafon  of  their  fun6lion.  But  before  any  conful  fhall  aft  33 
fuch  he  fliall  be  in  the  ufual  forms  approved  and  admitted  by 
the  prity  to  whom  he  is,  lent  5  and  it  is  hereby  declared  to  be 
lawful  and  proper,  that  in  cafe  of  illegal  or  improper  conduft 
towards  the  laws  or  government,  a  conful  msy  either  be  punilh- 
ed  accordiijg  to  law,  if  the  !av\'s  \viU  reach  the  cafe  or  be  dif- 
miifed,  or  even  fcnt  back,  the  offended  government  aifigning  to, 
the  other  their  realons  for  the  fame. 

Either  of  the  parties  may  except  from  the  refidence  o-f  con= 
fuls  luch  particular  places  as  fuch  party  fliall  judge  proper  tQ 
be  lo  excepted. 

Art.  x-j.  It  is  agreed,  that  in  all  cafes  where  veflel?  fiiall  be 
captured  or  detained  on  juft  fufpicion  of  having  on  board  ene-. 
my's  property,  or  of  carrying  to  the  enemy  any  of  the  articles 
which  are  contraband  of  war  :  the  (aid  vefTel  fliall  be  brought 
to  the  nearell  or  rnofl  convenient  port;  and  if  anv  property  of 
ail  en.cmy  fhould  be  found  on  board  fuch  vefTel,  that  part  onLy 
•which  belongs  to  the  enemy  fhall  be  made  prize,  and  the  veflel 
fliall  be  at  liberty  to  proceed  with  the  remainder  without  any 
'  impediment.  And  it  is  ogreed^  that  all  proper  meafures  fhal.l 
be  token  to  prevent  delay,  in  deciding  the  cales  of  fhips  o^ 
cargoes  io  brought  in  for  adjudication  ;  and  in  the  payment  or 
recoveiy  of  any  mdemniftcation  adjudged  or  agreed  to  be  paid 
to  the  mafhers  or  owners  of  fuch  fliips. 

Art.  18.  In  order  to  regulate  what  is  in  future  to  be  deemed 
contraband  of  war,  it  is  agreed,  that  under  the  laid  denomination 
flidU  be  comprifed  all  arms  and  implements  ferving  for  the  pur- 
pofes  of  war,  by  land  or  fea,  luch  as  cannon,  mufkets,  mortars, 
petards,  bombs,  grenados,  carcafles,  laucifTes,  carriages  for  can- 
nons, mufket  refts,  bandoliers,  gun  powder,  match,  faltpetre, 
ball,  pikes,  Iwords,  head  pieces,  cuiralies,  halberts,  lances,  jave- 
liiies,  norle  furniture,  hoHlers,  belts,  and  generally  all  other  irr^- 
plemeuis  of  war  ;  as  alio  timber  for  fliip  building,  tar,  or  rofin, 
copper  in  flieets,  fails  hemp  and  cordage,  and  generally  whate- 
ver rnav  ierve  diieftly  to  the  equipment  of  veilels,  unwrought 
iron  and  fir  planks  only  excepted  ;  and  all  the  above  articles  are 
iiereby  deckued  to  be  juil  ohjefts  of  confilcation,  whenever  they 
aie  atienipten  to    be   cairied  li>  an  enemy. 

And  Vv'heieas  l)ie  difiiculty  of  agreeing  en  the  prccife  cafes 
in  which  alone  proviiions  and  other  articles  not  generally  con- 
traband may  be  irgardcd  as  luch,  renders  it  expedient  to  provide 
aaamfl  the  mconvcnicncies  and  milunderflandings  which   m'ght 


COMMERCE  AND  NAVIGATION:  ^-jj 

fhcnce  atife  :  it  is  further  agreed,  that  whenever  any  fuch  ar- 
ticles fo  becoming  contraband  according  to  the  exifting  laws  of 
nations,  fhall  for  that  reafon  be  feized,  the  fame  fhall  not  be 
confifcat«d,  but  the  owners  thereof  fhall  be  fpeedily  and  com- 
pletely indemnified  ;  and  the  captors,  or  in  their  default  the  go- 
vernment under  whofe  authority  they  aft,  fhall  pay  to  the  maf- 
ters  or  owners  of  fuch  veilel  the  full  value  of  all  articles,  with 
a  reafonabll  mercantile  profit  thereon,  together  v^fith  the  freight, 
and  alfo  the  demurrage  incident  to  fuch  detention. 

And  whereas  it  frequently  happens,  that  ve^els  iail  for  a  port 
or  place  belonging  to  any  enemy,  without  knowing  that  the 
fame  is  either  befieged,  blockaded  or  inverted  ;  it  is  agreed,  that 
every  veffel  fo  circumftanced  may  be  turned  away  from  fuch 
port  or  place,  but  fhe  fhall  not  be  detained  nor  her  cargo,  if  not 
contraband,  be  confifcated,  unlefs  after  notice  fhe  (hall  again  at- 
tempt to  enter  ;  but  fhe  fhall  be  permitted  to  go  to  any  port  or 
place  fhe  may  think  proper  :  nor  fhall  any  velfel  or  goods  of 
either  party,  that  may  have  entered  into  fuch  port  ox  pljce,  be- 
fore the  fame  was  befieged,  blockaded  or  inverted  by  the  other, 
and  be  found  therein  after  the  reduftion  or  furrender  of  fuck 
place,  be  liable  to  confifcation,  but  fliall  be  reflored  to  the 
owners  or  proprietors  thereof. 

Art.  ig.  And  that  more  abundant  care  be  taken  for  the  fer 
curity  of  the  relpeftive  lubjefts  and  citizens  of  the  contrafting 
parties,  and  to  prevent  their  fuffering  injuries  by  the  men  of 
war,  or  privateers  of  either  party,  all  commanders  of  fliips  of 
-yvar  and  privateers  and  all  others  the  laid  lubjefts  and  citizens 
Ihall  forbear  to  do  any  damage  to  thofe  of  the  other  party,  or 
committing  any  outrage  againft  them,  and  if  they  aft  to  the 
contrary,  they  ihall  be  punilhed,  and  fhall  alfo  b;  bound  in  their 
perfons  and  eftates  to  make  fatisfaftion  and  reparation  for  all 
damages,  and  the  intereft  thereof,  of  whatever  nature  the  faid 
damages  may  be. 

For  this  caufe  all  commanders  of  privateers  before  they  re- 
ceive their  commirtions  Ihall  hereafter  be  obliged  to  give  before 
a  competent  judge,  fufRcient  fecurity  by  ?t  leart  two  reiponlible 
i'ureties,  who  have  no  interert  in  the  laid  privateer,  each  of 
whom,  together  with  the  faid  commander,  fhall  be  jointly  and 
feveraily  bound  in  the  fum  of  fifteen  hundred  pounds  fterling, 
or  if  inch  Ihips  be  provided  with  above  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feamen  or  loldiers,  in  the  lum  of  tliice  thouland  pounds  fterling, 
to  fatisfy  all  damages  and  injuries,  which  the  laid  privateer  or 
officers  or  men,  or  any  of  them  may  do  or  commit  during  their 
•',  Utile,  contrary  to  the  tenor  of   this  treaty,   or    to  the  laws  and 


47«  TREATY   OF    AMITY, 

inftruftions  for  regulating  their  conduft  ;  and  further  that  in 
all  cafes  of  aggreflions  the  faid  comtniflions  fhall  be  revoked 
and  annuled. 

It  is  alfo  agreed,  that  whenever  a  judge  of  a  court  of  admi- 
ralty of  either  of  the  parties,  fhall  pronounce  fentence  againft 
any  veffel  of  goods  or  property  belonging  to  the  fubjefts  or 
citizens  of  the  other  party  a  formal  and  duly  authenticated  copy 
of  all  the  proceedings  in  the  caufe,  and  of  the  faid  fentence, 
fhall  if  required  be  delivered  to  the  commander  of  the  faid 
veffel,  without  the  fmalleft.  delay,  he  paying  all  legal  fees  and 
demands  for  the  fame. 

Art.  20.  It  is  further  agreed  that  both  the  faid  contracting 
parties,  fhall  not  only  refufe  to  receive  any  pirates  into  any  of 
their  ports,  havens,  or  towns,  or  permit  any  of  their  inha- 
bitants to  receive,  proteft,  harbour,  conceal  or  affift  them  in 
any  manner,  but  will  bring  to  condign  punifhment  all  fuch  in- 
habitants as  {hall  be  guilty  of  fuch  a£ls  or  offences. 

And  all  their  fhips  with  the  goods  or  merchandifes  taken  by 
them  and  brought  into  port  of  either  of  the  faid  parties,  fliall 
be  feized  as  far  as  they  can  be  difcovered,  and  fhall  be  reftored 
to  the  owners  or  the  faftors  or  agents  duly  deputed  and  autho- 
rifed  in  writing  by  them  (proper  evidence  being  firft  in  the 
court  of  admiralty  for  proving  the  property)  even  in  cafe  fuch 
efiefts  fhould  have  pafled  into  other  hands  by  fale,  if  it  be 
proved  that  the  buyers  knew  or  had  good  reafon  to  believe,  or 
fufpeft  that  they  had  been  piratically  taken. 

Art.  21.  It  is  likewife  agreed,  that  the  fubjefts  and  citizens 
of  the  two  nations,  fhall  not  do  any  afts  of  hoitility  or  violence 
againfl  each  other,  nor  accept  commifTions  or  inftruftians  fo  to 
aft  from  any  foreign  prince  or  fhate,  enemies  to  the  other  party; 
nor  fliali  the  enemies  of  one  of  the  parties  be  permitted  to  in- 
vite, or  endeavour  to  enlift  in  the  military  fervice  any  of  the 
fubjcCls  or  citizens  of  the  other  party  ;  and  the  laws  againft  all 
fuch  (jfFcnces  Ihall  be  punftually  executed.  And  if  any  fubjeft 
or  citizen  of  the  faid  parties  rcfpeftively  fhall  accept  any 
foreign  commifTion,  or  letters  of  marque,  for  arming  any  velfel 
to  oft  as  a  privateer  againft  the  other  party,  it  is  hereby  declared 
to  be  lawful  for  the  faid  party  to  treat  and  punifh  the  faid  fub- 
jeft  or  citizen,  having  fuch  ccmmifTion  or  letters  of  marque,  as 
a  pirate. 

Art.  22.  It  is  exprcTsIy  fl.ipulated  that  neither  of  the  faid 
contrafting  parties  will  orcer  or  authorife  any  afts  of  reprifal 
againft  the  ether,  on  complaints  of  injuries  or  damages,  until 
the   iaid    party    fliall  H;rt  havr  rcnrercn:':d  to  the  other,   a  flatc- 


COMMEkCE  ANb  NAVIGAtiON.  479 

ment  thereof,  verified  by  competent  proof  and  evidence,  and 
demanding  juftice  and  fatisfaftion,  and  the  fame  fhall  either  have 
been  refuted  or  unreafonably  delayed. 

Art.  23.  The  fhips  of  war  of  each  of  the  contrafting  parties 
{hall,  at  all  times,  be  hofpitably  received  in  the  ports  of  the 
other,  their  officers  and  crews  payin-g  due  refpeft  to  the  laws 
and  government  of  the  country.  The  officers  fhall  be  treated 
with  that  refpeft  which  is  due  to  the  commiflions  which  they 
bear ;  and  if  any  infult  fhould  be  offered  to  them  by  any  of  the 
inhabitants,  all  offenders  in  this  refpeft  fhall  be  punifhed  as 
difturbers  of  the  peace  and  amity  between  the  two  countries* 
And  his  Majefty  confents,  that  in  cafe  an  American  veffel, 
fhould  by  flrefs  of  weather,  danger  from  enemies  or  other  mis- 
fortunes be  reduced  to  the  neceffity  of  feeking  fheher  in  any  of 
his  Majefty's  ports,  into  which  fuch  veffel  could  not  in  ordi- 
nary cafes  claim  to  be  admitted,  fhe  fhall,  on  manifefting  that 
neceffity  to  the  fatisfaftion  of  the  government  of  the  place,  be 
hofpitably  received  and  permitted  to  refit  and  to  purchafe  at 
the  market  price  fuch  neceffaries,  as  ffie  may  ftand  in  need  of, 
conformably  to  luch  orders  and  regulations  as  the  government  of 
the  place,  having  refpeft  to  circumftances  of  each  cafe,  fhall 
prefcribe.  She  fhall  not  be  allowed  to  break  bulk  or  unload 
her  cargo  unlefs  the  fame  ffiall  be  bona  fide  neceffary  to  her  being 
refitted.  Nor  fhall  be  permitted  to  fell  any  part  of  her  cargOj 
unlefs  fo  much  only  as  may  be  neceffary  to  defray  her  expenfes, 
and  then  not  without  the  exprefs  permiffion  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  place.  Nor  fhallftie  be  obliged  to  pay  any  duties 
whatever  except  only  on  fuch  articles  as  ffie  may  be  permit- 
ted to  fell  for  the  purpofe  aforefaid. 

Art.  24.  It  fhall  .not  be  lawful  for  any  foreign  privateers 
(not  being  fubje£ls  or  citizens  of  either  of  the  faid  parties)  who 
have  commiffions  from  any  other  prince  or  ftate  in  enmity  with 
either  nation,  to  arm  their  fhips  in  the  ports  of  either  of  the 
faid  parties,  nor  fell  what  they  have  taken,  nor  in  any  othe.i- 
manner  to  exchange  the  fame  ;  nor  ffiall  they  be  allowed  to 
purchafe  more  provifions  than  ffiall  be  neceffary  for  their  going 
to  the  neareft  port  of  that  prince  or  flate  from  whom  they  ob- 
tained their  commiffion. 

Art.  25.  It  fhall  be  lawful  for  the  fhips  of  v\^ar  and  pri- 
vateers belonging  to  the  faid  parties  refpedlively,  to  carry 
wliitherfoever  they  pleafe  the  fliips  and  goods  taken  from  their 
enemies,  without  being  obliged  to  pay  any  fee  to  the  officers  of 
the  admiralty,  or  to  any  judges  whatever  ;  nor  Ihall  the  faid 
prizes   when  they  arrive  at,  and  enter  the  ports   of  the  faid 


48c>  TREATY   OF  AMITY, 

parties  be  detained  or  feized,  neither  fliall  the  fearchcrs  or  otlier 
officers  of  thofe  places  viTit  fuch  prizes  (except  for  the  purpofe 
of  preventing  the  carrying  of  any  part  of  the  cargoe  thereof 
6n  Ihore  in  any  manner  contrary  to  the  eftablinied  laws  of 
revenue,  navigation,  or  commerce)  nor  fhall  fuch  ofr.cers  take 
cognifance  of  the  validity  of  fuch  prizes  ;  but  they  fhall  be  at 
liberty  to  hoift;  fail  and  depart  as  fpeedily  as  may  be,  and  carry 
their  faid  prizes  to  the  place  mentio-ned  in  their  commifuons  oi: 
patents,  which  the  commanders  of  the  faid  fliips  of  war  or 
privateers  fliall  be  obliged  to  fhew.  No  fhelter  or  refuge  fliall 
be  given  in  their  ports  to  luch  as  have  made  a  prize  upon  the 
lubjefts  or  ciiiiens  of  either  of  the  laid  parties  ;  but  if  forced 
by  (Irefs  of  Weather,  or  the  danger  of  the  fea,  to  enter  therein^ 
particulai-  care  ftiall  be  t.iken  to  hallen  tlieir  departure,  and  to 
caufe  them  to  retire  as  (oon  as  pofTible.  Nothing  in  this  treaty 
Contained  Ihnll,  however,  be  condituted  or  operate  contrary  to 
former  and  exifting  public  treaties  witli  other  fovereigns  or 
Hates.  But  the  two  parties  agrecj  that  while  they  continue  in 
amiiy  ncithei"  of  theln  will  in  future  make  any  treaty  that  flaall 
be  inconfiftcnt  with  this  or  the  preceding  article. 

Neither  of  the  faid  parties  fhall  permit  the  fhips  or  goods 
belonging  to  the  fubjefts  oi-  citizens  of  the  other  to  be  taken 
within  cannon  fllot  of  the  coaR,  nor  in  any  of  the  bays,  ports, 
or  rivers  of  Iheir  territories  by  fhips  of  war,  or  others  having 
coiuinilnon  from  any  Prince,  Republic,  or  State  whatever.  But 
in  cdle  It  Ihould  lo  happen,  t!ie  party  whofe  territorial  rights 
ihail  thus  have  been  violated,  (li^U  u'e  his  utmoft  endeavours  to 
obtaui  Iroin  tlie  offending  party,  full  and  ample  fatisfaftion  foir 
the  vciVcl  or  veifels  lo  taken,  v^helhcr  the  fame  be  vcilclti  of  war 
or  mcjchant  veifels. 

Alt.  26.  If  at  any  time  a  rupture  flrould  take  place  (which 
Cod  foibici)  between  his  Majefty  and  the  United  States,  the 
ruerthar.ts  and  others  of  each  of  the  two  nations  jeliding  in 
llie  dominions  of  tlie  other  fiiall  have  tlie  privilege  of  remaining 
and  continuing  their  trade,  lo  long  as  they  behave  peaceably  and 
commit  no  ofFsnce  again  ft  the  laws  ;  and  in  cafe  their  conduft 
fhould  rerider  them  lulpcfted  and  the  reipeUive  government's 
ihould  tliink  proper  to  order  them  lo  remove,  the  term  of 
twelve  months  from  the  publication  of  the  order  fhall  be  allowed 
them  for  tiiat  purpofe,  to  remove  with  their  families,  effe£ls, 
and  propeity,  but  this  favor  ihall  not  be  extended  to  tliole  who 
fhall  aft  contrary  to  the  ellabliPned  laws,  and  for  greater  cer- 
tainty, it  is  declared  tliat  lucii  rupture  Paall  not  be  deemed  to 
ex  ill   while   negociatiuns   for    accommodating  -differences,  fhall 


COMMERCE  Al^D  NAVIGATION.  481 

be  depending,  nor  until  the  refpeaivc  Ambaffadors  or  Minifters, 
if  fuch  there  (hall  be,  fhall  be  recalled  or  fent  home  on  account 
of  fuCh  differences,  and  not  on  account  of  perfonal  mifcondutl 
according  to  the  nature  and  degrees  of  which  both  parties  retain 
their  rights,  either  to  requeft  the  recall,  or  immediately  to  fend 
home  the  Ambaffador  or  Minifter  of  the  other  :  and  that  without 
prejudice  to  their  mutual  friendfhip  and  good  undeiftanding. 

Art.  2^.  It  is  further  agreed  that  his  Majefty  and  the  United, 
States  on  mutual  requifitions,  by  them  refpeftively,  or  by  their 
refpeftivc  Minifters  or  Officers  authorifed  to  make  the  fame,  will 
deliver  up  to  juflice  all  perfons  who  being  charged  with  murder 
or  forgery,  committed  within  the  jurildiftion  of  either,  fhall  leek 
an  afylum  within  any  of  the  countries  of  the  other,  provided 
that  this  (hall  only  be  done  on  fuch  evidence  of  criminality  as, 
according  to  the  laws  of  the  place,  where  the  fugitive  or  perfon 
fo  charged  fhall  be  found,  would  juflify  his  apprehenfion  ard 
commitment  for  trial,  if  the  offence  had  there  been  committed. 
The  cxpence  of  fuch  apprehenfion  and  delivery  fhall  be  borne 
and  defrayed  by  thofe  who  make  the  requifition  and  receive  the 
fugitive. 

Art.  28.  It  is  agreed,  that  the  firft  ten  articles  of  this  Trea- 
ty (hall  be  permanent,  and  that  the  fubfequent  articles,  except 
the  twelfth,  fliall  be  limited  in  their  duration  to  twelve  years, 
to  be  computed  from  the  day  on  which  the  ratifications  of 
this  Treaty  (hall  be  exchanged,  but  fubjeft  to  this  condition 
—that  whereas  the  faid  twelfth  article  will  expire  by  the 
limitation  therein  contained,  at  the  end  of  two  yeais  from, 
the  figning  the  preliminary  or  other  articles  of  peace  which 
(hall  terminate  the  preicnt  war  in  which  his  Majefty  is  engag- 
ed, it  is  agreed,  that  proper  meafures  (hall  by  concert  be  taken 
for  bringing  the  fubjeft  of  that  article  into  amicable  treaty 
and  diicufTion,  fo  early  before  the  expiration  of  the  laid  term, 
as  that  new  arrangements  on  that  head,  may  by  that  time  be 
perfefted  and  ready  to  take  place.  But  if  it  fhould  unfor- 
tunately happen,  that  his  Majefty  and  the  United  States  fhould 
not  be  able  to  agree  on  fuch  new  arrangements,  in  that  cafe 
all  the  articles  of  this  treaty,  except  the  firfl  ten  fhall  then 
ceafe  and  expire  together. 

Laftly.  This  Treaty,  when  the  fame  fhall  have  been  ratified  by 
his  Majefly  and  by  the  Prefident  of  the  United  States,  by  and 
with  the  advice  and  confent  of  their  Senate,  and  the  refpeftive 
ratifications  mutually  exchanged,  fhall  be  binding  and  obligatory 
on  his  Majefty  and  on  the  laid  States,  and  fhall  be  by  them  rc- 
fpeflively  executed  and  pblerved  with  punftuality  and  the  misfl 

3  Q 


482  TREATY  OP 

iincere  regard  to  good  faith  ;  and  whereas  it  will  be  expedient^ 
in  order  the  better  to  facilitate  intercourfe  and  obviate  difficul- 
tJeSj  that  other  articles  be  propofed  and  added  to  this  Treaty, 
which  .trticles  from  want  of  time  and  other  circumftances,  can- 
not novvr  be  perfcfted — it  is  agreed,  that  the  faid  parties  will, 
from  time  to  time,  readily  treat  of  and  concerning  fuch  articles, 
and  will  fincerely  endeavour  lo  to  form  them,  as  that  they  may 
cnndvice  to  mutual  convenience,  and  tend  to  promote  mutual  fa- 
tisfaftion  and  fiiendfhip;  and  that  the  faid  articles,  after  having 
been  duly  ratified,  fhall  be  added  to,  and  make  a  part  of  this  treaty. 
In  faith  whereof,  we  the  underfigned  Minifters  Plenipoten- 
tiary of  his  M.ije/ty  the  King  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Unit- 
ed States  of  America,  have  figned  this  prcfent  Treaty,  and 
have   cauled  to  be  affixed  thereto  the   Seal  of  our  arms. 

Done  at   Londonj  this   Nineteenth  day   of  November, 
One  Thoufand    Seven    Hundred    and   Ninety-Four, 
GRENVILLE,  [Seal) 

JOHN  JAY.  {iieai} 


A— <■•<•<•  <^^>  •>>■•>■— . 

TREATY    OF 
t>EACE  AND  FRIENDSHIP 

BETWEEN 

THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA,  AND  HIS  I.MPERIAt 
MAJESTY  THE  EMPEROR  OF  MOROCCO. 

To  ell  Fcrfons  to  whom  theje  prefeiits  Jliall  com:  or  be  viade  knoion. 


w, 


HEREAS  the  United  States  of  America  in  Consrefs 
alTembled,  by  their  cofnmiffions  bearing  date  the  twelfth  day 
of  May,  one  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  eighty-four,  thought 
proper  to  conftitute  John  Adams,  Benjamin  Franklin,  and 
Thomas  Jefferion,  their  minifters  plenipotentiary,  giving  to 
them,  or  a  majority  of  them,  full  powers  to  confer,  treat  and 
negociate  with  the  ambaiTador,  minifler,  (w  commifnoner  of 
his  Majefty  the  Emperor  of  Morocco,  concerning  a  treaty  of 
amity  and  comiriCrce ;  to  make  and  receive  propofuions  for 


PEACE  AND  FRIENDSHIP,  483 

fuch  treaty,  and  to  conclude  and  fign  the  fame,  tranfmitting 
it  to  the  United  States  in  Congrefs  affembled,'  for  their  final 
ratification  ;  and  by  one  other  commiflion  bearing  date  the 
eleventh  day  of  March,  one  thoufand  feven  hundred  and 
eighty-five,  did  further  empovv^er  the  faid  miriirters  plenipo- 
tentiary, or  a  majority  of  them,  by  writing  under  their  hands 
and  feals,  to  appoint  fuch  agent  in  the  faid  bufinefs  as  they 
might  think  proper,  with  authority  under  the  diredions  and 
inftruftions  of  the  faid  minifters,  to  commence  and  profecute 
the  faid  negociations  and  conferences  for  the  faid  treaty,  prOf 
vided  that  the  faid  treaty  fhould  be  figned  by  the  faid  minif- 
ters :  And  whereas  we  the  faid  John  Adams  and  Thomas 
Jef?erfon,  two  of  the  faid  minifters  plenipotentiary  (the  faid 
Benjamin  Franklin  being  ablent)  by  writing  under  the  hand 
and  feal  of  the  faid  John  Adams  at  London,  Oftobei  the  fifth, 
one  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  eighty-five,  and  of  the  faid 
Thomas  JefFerfon  at  Paris,  Otlober  the  eleventh  of  the  fame 
year,  did  appoint  Thomas  Barclay,  agent  in  the  bufinefs  afore- 
faid,  giving  him  the  powers  therein,  which  by  the  faid  fecond 
commiflion  we  were  authorifcd  to  give,  and  the  faid  Thomas 
Barclay  in  purfuance  thereof,  hath  arranged  articles  for  a 
treaty  of  amity  and  commerce  between  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  his  Majefty  the  Emperor  of  Morocco,  which 
articles,  written  in  the  Arabic  language,  confirmed  by  his 
faid  Majefty  the  Emperor  of  Morocco,  and  fealed  with  his 
royal  feal,  being  tranfluted  into  the  language  of  the  faid  United 
States  of  America,  together  with  the  atteftations  thereto  an* 
pexed,  are  in  the  following  words,  to  wit, 

J  Seal.   J 

In  the  Name  of  Almightv  God. 
THIS  is  a  Treaty  of  Peace  and  Friendlhip  eftablifhed  between 
us  and  the  United  States  of  Anierica,  which  is  confirmed,  and 
which  we  have  ordered  to  be  written  in  this  book,  and  fealed 
with  our  royal  ieal,  at  our  court  of  Morocco,  on  the  twenty- fifth 
day  of  the  bleffed  month  of  Shaban,  in  the  year  one  thoufand 
two  hundred,  trufting  in  God  it  will  remain  permanent. 

Article  I.  We  declare  that  both  parties  have  agreed  that  this 
treaty,  confifting  of  twenty-five  articles,  (hall  be  infeited  in  this 
book,  and  delivered  to  the  Honorable  Thomas  Barclay,  the  agent 
of  the  United  States  now  at  our  court,  with  whofe  approbation 
it  has  been  made,  and  who  is  duly  authorifed  on  their  part  to  treat 
-with  us  concerning  all  the  matters  contained  therein. 


1^  TREATY   OF 

Art.  11.  If  either  of  the  parties  fhall  be  at  v/ar  with  any  na- 
tion whatever,  the  other  party  fliall  not  take  a  commifrion  from 
the  enemy,  nor  fight  under  their  colours. 

Art,  III.  If  either  of  the  parties  (hall  beat  war  with  any  na- 
tion whatever,  and  take  a  prize  belonging  to  that  nation,  and 
there  fhall  be  foMnd  on  board  fubjefts  or  effefts  belonging  to  ci- 
ther of  the  parties,  the  fubje6ls  {hall  be  fet  at  liberty,  and  the 
«ffe£ls  returned  to  the  owners.  And  if  any  goods  belonging  to 
any  nation,  with  whom  either  of  the  parties  (hall  be  at  war,  fhall 
be  loaded  on  veiTels  belonging  to  the  other  party,  they  fliall  pafs 
free  and  unmolefled  without  any  attempt  being  made  to  take  or 
(detain  them. 

Art.  IV.  ^  fignal  or  p^fs  {hall  be  given  to  all  veffels  belong- 
ing to  biOth  parties,  by  which  they  are  to  be  known  when  they 
meet  at  fea  ;  and  if  the  commander  of  a  fhip  of  war  of  either 
party  {liall  have  other  fl^ips  under  his  convoy,  the  declaration 
of  the  commander  fliall  alone  be  fufficicnt  to  exempt  any  of 
theni  from  examination. 

Art.  V.  If  either  of  the  parties  fhall  be  at  war,  and  (hall 
ijieet  a  veffel  at  fea  belonging  to  the  other,  it  is  agreed,  that  if 
an  examination  is  to  be  ipade,  it  fhall  be  done  by  fending  a  boat 
with  two  or  three  men  only  ;  and  if  any  gun  (hall  be  fired,  and 
injury  done  without  reafon,  the  offending  party  fhall  make  good 
all  damages. 

Art.  VI.  If  any  Moor  fhall  bring  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  or  their  efTefts,  to  his  Majefty,  the  citizens  fhall  imme- 
diately be  fet  at  liberty,  and  the  effc£ls  reflored  ;  and  in  like 
manner,  if  any  Moor,  not  a  fubjeft  of  thelc  dominions,  fhall 
make  prize  of  any  of  the  citizens  of  America,  or  their  effefts, 
and  bring  them  into  any  of  the  ports  of  his  Majefty,  they  fhall 
be  immediately  releafed,  as  they  will  then  be  confidered  as  under 
his  Majefty's  proteftion. 

Art.  VII.  If  any  veffel  of  either  party  fhall  put  into  a  port 
of  the  other,  and  have  occafion  for  provifions  or  other  fupplies, 
they  fhail  be  furnifhed  without  any  interruption  or  molef- 
tation. 

Art.  VIH.  If  any  veffel  of  the  United  States  fhall  meet  with 
a  dilafter  at  fea,  and  put  into  one  of  our  ports  to  repair,  fhe 
fhall  be  at  liberty  to  land  and  reload  her  cargo,  without  paying 
any  duty  whatever. 

Art.  IX.  If  any  veffel  of  the  United  States  fhall  be  caft  on 
ffcore  on  any  part  of  our  coalls,  fhe  fhall  remain  at  the  difpofition 
of  the  owners,  and  no  one  fhall  attempt  going  near  her  without 
their  approbation,  as  Die  is  then  confidercd  particularly  under  our 


PEACE  AND  FRIENDSHIP.  485 

proteftion  ;  and  if  any  velTel  of  the  United  States  ftiall  be  forced 
to  put  into  our  ports  by  ftrefs  of  weather,  or  otherwife,  (he 
Jhall  not  be  compelled  to  land  her  cargo,  but  fliall  remain  in 
tranquility  until  the  commander  fhall  think  proper  to  proceed  on 
his  voyage. 

Art.  X.  If  any  vcffel  of  either  of  the  parties  fhall  have  an 
engagement  with  a  vefTcl  belonging  to  any  of  the  Chriftian  pow- 
ers within  gun  fhot  of  the  forts  of  the  other,  the  veffel  fo  en- 
gaged fliall  be  defended  and  protefted  as  much  as  poffible  until 
fhe  is  in  fafety  ;  and  if  any  American  veffel  fhall  be  caft  on  fhore 
pn  the  coaft  of  Wadnoon,  or  any  eoaft  thereabout,  the  people- 
belonging  to  her  fhall  be  protefted  and  affifted,  until,  by  the  help 
of  God,  they  fhall  be  fent  to  their  country. 

Art.  XI.  If'We  fhall  be  at  war  with  any  Chriftian  power,  and 
any  of  our  veffels  fail  from  the  ports  of  the  United  States,  nd 
veffel  belonging  to  the  enemy  {hall  follow  urjtil  twenty-four 
hours  after  the  departure  of  our  veffels  ;  and  the  lame  regula- 
tion fhall  be  obferved  towards  the  American  veffels  failing  from 
our  ports,  be  their  enemies  Moors  or  Chriftians. 

Art.  XII.  If  any  fhip  of  war  belonging  to  the  United  States 
ihall  put  into  any  of  our  ports,  fhe  fhall  not  be  examined  on  any 
pretence  whatever,  even  though  fhe  fhould  have  fugitive  (laves 
on  board,  nor  fhall  the  governor  or  commander  of  the  place 
compel  them  to  be  brought  on  fhore  on  any  pretext,  nor  require 
a,ny  payment  for  them. 

Art.  XIII.  If  a  fhip  of  war  of  either  party  fhall  put  into  a 
port  of  the  other  and  falute,  it  fhall  be  returned  from  the  fort 
with  an  equal  number  of  guns,  not  with  more  or  lefs. 

Art,  XIV.  The  commerce  with  the  United  States  fhall  be  on 
the  fame  footing  as  is  the  commerce  with  Spain,  or  as  that  with 
the  mod  favoured  nation  for  the  time  being  ;  and  their  citizens 
fhall  be  refpefted  and  efteemed,  and  have  full  liberty  to  pafs 
and  repafs  our  country  and  feaports  whenever  they  pleafe  with- 
out interruption. 

Art.  XV.  Merchants  of  both  countries  (hall  employ  only  fuch 
interpreters,  and  fuch  other  perfons  to  affifl  them  in  their  bu(i- 
nefs,  as  they  fhall  think  proper.  No  commander  of  a  veffel 
fhall  tranfport  his  cargo  on  board  another  veffel  ;  he  (hall  not  be 
detained  in  port  longer  than  he  may  think  proper  ;  and  all  per- 
fons employed  in  loading  or  unloading  goods,  or  in  any  other 
labour  whatever,  fhall  be  paid  at  the  cuftomary  rates,  not  more 
and  not  lefs. 

Art.  XVI.  In  cafe  of  a  war  between  the  parties,  the  prifoners 
Sire  not  to  be  ma  .e  (laves,  but  to  be  exchanged  one  for  another, 


486  TREATY  0  F 

captain  for  captain,  officer  for  officer,  and  one  private  man  for 
another  ;  and  if  there  fhall  prove  a  deficiency  on  either  fide,  it 
ihali  be  made  up  by  the  payment  of  one  hundred  Mexican  dol- 
lars for  each  perfon  wanting.  And  it  is  agreed  that  all  prifoners 
fhall  be  exchanged  v^ithin  twelve  months  from  the  time  of  their 
being  taken,  and  that  this  exchange  may  be  effefted  by  a  mer- 
chant or  any  other  perfon  authorized  by  either  of  the  parties. 

Art.  XVII.  Merchants  fhall  not  be  compelled  to  buy  or  fell 
any  kind  of  goods  but  fuch  as  they  fhall  think  proper  ;  and  may 
buy  and  fell  all  forts  of  merchandize  but  fuch  as  are  prohibited 
to  the  other  Chriftian  nations. 

Art.  XVIII.  All  goods  fliall  be  weighed  and  examined  before 
they  are  fent  on  board,  and  to  avoid  all  detention  of  veffels,  no 
examination  fhall  afterwards  be  made,  unlefs  it  {hall  firft  be 
proved  that  contraband  goods  have  been  fent  on  board,  in  which 
cafe  the  perfons  who  took  the  contraband  goods  on  board,  fhall 
be  puniflied  according  to  the  ulage  and  cuflom  of  the  country, 
and  no  other  perfon  whatever  fhall  be  injured,  nor  fhall  the  (hip 
or  cargo  incur  apy  penalty  or  damage  whatever. 

Art.  XIX.  No  velTel  fhall  be  detained  in  port  on  any  pre- 
tence whatever,  nor  be  obliged  to  take  on  board  any  article 
without  the  confent  of  the  commander,  who  fhall  be  at  full 
liberty  to  agree  for  the  freight  of  any  goods  he  takes  on 
board. 

Art.  XX.  If  any  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  any 
perfons  under  their  prole£lion,  fhall  iiave  any  difputes  with  each 
other,  the  conlul  fhall  decide  between  the  parties,  and  whenever 
the  coiiful  fhall  require  any  aid  or  afTiftance  from  our  governr 
ment,  to  enforce  his  decifions,  it  fhall  be  immediately  granted 
to  him. 

Art,  XXI.  If  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  fhould  kill  or 
wound  a  Moor,  or  on  the  contrary  if  a  Moor  fhall  kill  or  wound 
a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  the  law  of  the  country  fhall  take 
place,  and  equal  juflice  fhall  be  rendered,  the  conful  affifling 
at  the  trial ;  and  if  any  delinquent  fhall  make  his  efcape,  the 
conful  fhall  not  be  anfwerable  for  him  in  any  manner  what- 
ever. 

Art.  XXII.  If  an  American  citizen  fhall  die  in  our  country, 
and  no  will  fliall  appear,  the  conful  fhall  take  pofTefTion  of  his 
efFcfts.  and  if  there  fliall  be  no  conlul,  the  effefts  fliall  be  de- 
pofited  in  the  hands  of  fome  perfon  worthy  of  trull,  until  the 
party  fhall  appear  who  has  a  right  to  demand  them  ;  but  if  the 
heir  to  the  perlon  decealcd  be  prcfent,  the  property  fhall  be  de- 
livered to  him  without  interruption ;  and  if  a  will  fhall  appear^ 


PEACE  ^M)  FRJEM)SIilP.  4:87 

the   property  fhall   defcend  agreeable  to  that  will  as  foon  as  the 
conflil  ihall  declare  the  validity  thereof. 

Art.  XXIII.  The  confuls  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
fhall  refide  in  any  fea-port  of  our  dominions  that  they  (hall 
think  proper;  and  they  (hall  be  refpefted,  and  enjoy  all  the 
privileges  which  the  confuls  of  any  other  nation  enjoy  :  and  if 
any  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  fhall  contraft  any  debts 
or  engagements,  the  confuls  fliall  not  be  in  any  manner  account- 
able for  them,  unlefs  he  fhall  have  given  a  promife  in  writing 
for  the  payment  or  fulfilling  thereof,  without  which  promife 
in  writing,  no  application  to  him  for  any  rediefs  fhall  be 
made. 

Art.  XXIV.  If  any  differences  fhall  arife  by  either  party  in- 
fringing on  any  of  the  articles  of  this  treaty,  peace  and  harmony 
fhall  remain- notwithflanding,  irl  the  fulleft  force,  until  a  friendly 
application  fliall  be  made  for  an  arrangement,  and  until  that  ap- 
plication fhall  be  rejcfted,  no  appeal  fhall  be  made  to  arms.  And 
if  a  war  fhall  break  out  betv/een  the  parties,  nine  months  fhall 
be  granted  to  all  the  fubjcfts  of  both  parties,  to  difpofe  of  their 
efFefts  and  retire  with  their  property.  And  it  is  further  de- 
clared, that  whatever  indulgencies  in  trade  or  otherwife,  fhall 
be  granted  to  any  of  the  Chriftian  powers,  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  fhuU  be  equally  entitled  to  them. 

Art.  XXV.  This  treaty  fhall  continue  in  full  force,  with  the 
help  of  God,   for  fifty  years. 

We  have  delivered  this  book  into  the  hands  of  the  before 
mentioned  Thomas  Barclay,  on  the  firfh  day  of  the  blelled  month 
of  Ramadan,  in  the  year  one  thoufand  two  hundred. 

/  certify  that  the  annexed  is  a  true  copy  of  the  tranjlation  made 
by  Jfaac  Cordoza  Nunez^  interpreter  at  Morocco,  of  the  treaty  le- 
tween  the  Emperor  of  Morocco,  and  the  United  States  of  America. 

TPIOxVIAS  BARCLAY, 
ADDITIONAL     ARTICLE, 

GRACE     TO     THE     ONLY    GOD. 

I,  THE  under-written,  the  fcrvant  of  God,  Taher  Ben  Ab- 
delkack  Fennifh,  cio  certify,  that  his  Imperial  Majefhy,  my  mai- 
ler, (whom  God  preferve)  having  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace 
and  commerce  with  the  United  States  of  America,  has  ordered 
me,  the  better  to  complcat  it,  and  in  addition  of  the  te-nth  .jrf'\- 


4^8    TREATY  OF  PEACE  AND  FRIENDSHIP. 

cle  of  the  treaty,  to  declare,  "  That  if  any  veffel  belonging  to 
the  United  States,  fhall  be  in  any  of  the  ports  of  his  Majefty's 
dominions,  or  within  gun-fhot  of  his  forts,  he  fhall  be  protcfted 
as  much  as  pofTible,  and  no  veffel  whatever,  belonging  cither  to 
Moorifh  or  Chriftian  powers,  with  whom  the  United  States  may 
be  at  war,  fhall  be  permitted  to  follow  or  engage  her,  as  we 
now  deem  the  citizens  of  America  our  good  friends.'* 

And,  in  obedience  to  his  Majefly's  commands,  I  certify  this 
declaration,  by  putting  my  hand  and  fcal  to  it,  on  the  eighteenth 
day  of  Ramadan,*   in  the  year  one  thoufand  two  hundred. 

The  fervant  of  the  King,  my  mafter,  whom  God  prefervc, 
Taker  Ben  Abdelkack  Fennish. 

I  do  certify  that  the  above  is  a  true  copy  of  the  tranjlation  made 
at  Morocco,  by  Ifaac  Cordoza  Nunez,  interpreter,  of  a  declaration 
made  andfigned  by  Sidi  Hage  Taker  Fennifk,  in  addition  to  the 
treaty  bettveen  the  Emperor  of  Morocco,  and  the  United  States  of 
America,  which  declaration  the  faid  Taher  Fennifli  made  by  the  ex~ 
prefs  dircElions  of  his  Majefly. 

THOMAS  BARCLAY. 

Now  KNOW  VE,  That  wc  the  faid  John  Adams  and  Thomas 
jefFerfon,  minifters  plenipotentiary  aforefaid,  do  approve  and 
conclude  the  laid  treaty,  and  every  article  and  claufe  therein 
contained,  referving  the  fame  neverthelefs  to  the  United  State* 
in  Congiefi  affembled  for  their  final  ratification. 

In  iefiimony  whereof,  zoe  havefigned  the  fame  toitk  our  names  and 
feals,  at  the  places  of  our  refpcctive  refidence,  and  at  the  dates 
expreffed  under  our  fignatures  refpectively, 

JOHN  ADAMS.  (l.  s.) 

London,  January  2^th,   1787. 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON.  (t.  s.) 

Paris,  January  \jl,   1787. 


•  The  Ramadan  of  the  year  of  the  Hcgira  12OO,  commenced  on  the  28th 
Tunc,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,   1786. 


(    489     ) 


TREATY 


BETWEEN 


THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  HIS  CATPIOLIC  MAJESTY. 


Hi 


.IS  Catholic  Majefty  and  the  United  States  of  America, 
defiring  to  coniolidate,  on  a  permanent  bafis,  the  friendfhip  and 
good  correfpondence  which  happily  prevails  between  the  two 
parties,  have  determined  to  eflablifh  by  a  Convention,  fevera.l 
points,  the  Settlement  whereof  will  be  produftive  of  general 
advantage  and  reciprocal  utility  to  both  nations. 

With  this  intention  his  Catholic  Majefty  has  appointed  the 
mod  excellent  Lord  Don  Manuel  de  Goday,  and  Alvarez  de 
Faria,  Rois,  Sanchez,  Zazoza,  Prince  de  Paz,  Duke  de  la  AI- 
cudia.  Lord  of  the  Roto  de  Roma,  and  of  the  ftate  of  Albala, 
grandee  of  Spain  of  the  firfk  clafs,  perpetual  Regedor  of  the 
city  of  Santiajo,  Knight  of  the  illuftrious  order  of  the  Goldea 
Fleece,  and  Great  Crofs  of  the  Royal  and  diftinguifhed  Spanifh 
order  of  Charles  III.  Commander  of  Valencia,  del  Ventofe, 
Rivera,  and  Acenchal  :n  that  of  Santiajo,  Knight  and  Great 
Crofs  of  the  religious  order  of  St.  John,  Counleller  of  State, 
Firfl  Seccetary  of  State,  and  Difpatch  Secretary  to  the  Queen, 
Superintendant  General  of  the  Pofls  and  Highways,  Proteftc.r 
of  the  Royal  Academy  of  the  Noble  Arts,  and  of  the  Royal 
Societies  of  Natural  Hiftory,  Botan)'-,  Chemiftry  and  Aftro- 
nomy,  Gentleman  of  the  Bed  Chamber  in  employment,  Cap- 
tain General  of  his  armies,  Infpeftor  and  Major  ot  the  Royal 
Corps  of  Body  Guards,  &c.  &c.  &c.  And  the  Prefident  of 
the  United  States,  with  the  advice  and  confent  of  their  Senate, 
has  appclr.ted  Thomas  Pinckney,  a  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
and  their  Envoy  Extraordinary  to  his  Catholic  Majefty.  And 
the  iaid  Plenipotentiaries  have  agreed  upon  and  concluded  the 
followmg  Arricles. 

Art.  I.  There  fhall  be  a,  htm  and- inviolable  peace  and  fincerc 
friendnaip  between  his  Catholic  Majefty,  his  fucceffors  and 
lubjctts,  Slid  the  United  States,  and  their  citizens,  without 
exception  of  perfons  or  j^iaccs. 

Alt.  11.  To  prcv/ent  all  diipute  on  the  fubjeft  of  the  boun- 
daries which  feparale  che  territories  of  tlie  two  high  contrafting 
parci'.'S,   it    3S   hcteo  /    .ieclared   and   agreed    as   foUovv'S,   to  wit  : 


49=»  TREAfY  BETWEEN 

The  foutliern  boundary  of  the  United  States  which  divides 
their  territory  from  the  Spanifh  colonies  of  Eaft  and  Weft- 
Fiorida,  fliall  be  defignaled  by  a  line  beginning  on  the  river 
Miffiirippi  at  the  northernmofl  part  of  the  thirty-fifft  degree 
of  latitude  north  of  the  equator,  which  from  thence  Ihall  be 
drawn  due  eafl;  to  the  middle  of  the  river  Apalachicola  or 
Carahfuche,  thence  along  the  middle  thereof  to  its  junftioa 
with  the  Flint,  then  flraight  to  the  head  of  St.  Mary's  river, 
aid  thence  down  the  middle  thereof  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
And  it  is  a;^reed,  that  if  there  fhould  be  any  troops,  garrifons, 
or  fcttlements  of  eithef  parly  on  the  territory  of  the  other 
according  t.o  the  c-.bove-mentioned  boundaries,  they  fhall  be 
withdrawn  from  the  faid  territory  within  the  term  of  fix  months 
after  the  ratification  of  this  treaty,  or  looner,  if  it  be  poflible  ; 
and  that  they  fhall  be  permitted  to  take  with  them  all  the  goods 
and  efFefts  which  they  poffcfs. 

Art.  III.  In  order  to  carry  the  preceding  article  into  efFcft, 
one  commiffioner  and  on£  furveyor  fhall  be  appointed  by  each 
of  the  contrasting  parties,  \vho  fhall  meet  at  the  Matches,  on 
the  left  fide  of  the  river  Mifliffippi,  before  the  expiration  of 
fix  months  from  the  ratification  of  this  Convention,  and  they 
fhall  proceed  to  run  and  make  this  boundary  according  to  the 
i^ipulations  of  the  faid  article.  They  fhall  make  plats  and  keep 
journals  of  their  proceedings,  which  fliall  be  confidered  as  part 
of  this  Convention,  and  fhall  have  the  lame  force  as  if  this 
were  inferted  therein.  And  if  on  any  account  it  fhould  be 
found  necefiary  that  the  faid  commiffiouers  and  iurveyors  fhould 
be  accompanied  by  guards,  they  fhall  be  furnifhed  in  equal  prc- 
nortiou  by  the  commanding  officer  of  his  Majefty's  troops  in 
the  two  Floridas,  and  the  commanding  olfiter  of  the  troops  of 
the  UnUi;Q  States  in  the  loulh-weftern  territory,  who  fhall  aft 
by  common  confent  and  amicably,  as  well  with  relpcft  to  this 
point,  as  to '  the  furnifhing  provifions  and  inllruinents,  and 
making  every  other  arrangement  which  may  be  ritceifary  or 
ulcful  for  the  execution  of  this  article. 

Art,  IV.  It  is  likevvife  agreed  that  the  weftcrn  boundary  of 
the  United  States,  which  feparatcs  them  from  the  Spanifh  co- 
lony of  Louihana,  is  in  the  middle  of  the  channel  or  bed  of 
the  river  Milhihppi,  from  the  northern  boundary  of  the  iaii 
States,  to  llie  completion  of  the  (hiiivfirft  degree  of  laULude 
north  of  the  equator.  And  his  Catholic  Majefty  has  likcwife 
ogrced,  tllTtt  \.\\c.  Tnvt!»ation  of  the  i.::d  river,  from  its  lource 
i.o    ihc   ocean,   fhnll  be  free  or.ly  lu  his  iubjefts  and  the  citizens 


SPAIN  AND  AMERICA.  491 

of  the   United   States,  unlefs  he  fhould  extend  this  privilege  to 
the  fubjefts  of  other  powers  by  a  fpecial  convention. 

Art.  V.  The  two  high  contrsfting  parties  fliall,  by  all  means 
in  their  power,  maintain  peace  and  harmony  among  th-c  feveral 
Indian  nations  who  inhabit  the  country  adjacent  to  the  lines 
3nd  rivers  which,  by  the  preceding  article,  form  the  boundaries 
of  the  two  Floridas  ;  and  the  better  to  attain  this  effeft,  both 
parties  oblige  themfelves  exprefsly  to  rellrain,  by  force,  all 
hoftilities  on  the  part  of  the  Indian  nations  living  within  their 
boundary  :  fo  that  Spain  will  not  fulTer  their  Indians,  inhabit- 
ing their  territory,  nor  will  the  United  States  permit  their  laft 
mentioned  )tndians  to  commence  hoftilities  againft  his  Catholic 
Majefty,  or  his  Indians,   in  any  manner  whatfoever. 

And  whereas  fevcrai  treaties  of  friendfhip  exift  between  the 
two  contracting  parties  and  the  faid  nations  of  Indians,  it  is 
hereby  agreed,  that  in  future,  no  treaty  of  alliance,  or  other 
>vhatfoever,  (except  treaties  of  peace)  fhall  be  made  by  either 
party  with  the  Indians  living  within  the  boundary  of  the  other  ; 
but  both  parties  will  endeavour  to  make  the  advantages  of  the 
Indian  trade  common  and  mutually  beneficial  to  their  refpeftive 
fubje£ls  and  citizens,  obferving  in  ail  things  the  moft.  complete 
reciprocity,  fo  that  both  parties  may  obtain  the  advantages 
arifing  from  a  good  underftanding  with  the  faid  nations,  with- 
out being  fubjeft  to  the  expence  which  they  liave  hitherto  oc- 
cafioned. 

Art.  VI.  Each  party  {hall  endeavour,  by  all  the  means  in 
their  power,  to  proteft  and  defend  all  veffels  and  other  effefts 
belonging  to  the  citizens  or  fubjefts  of  the  other,  which  fhall 
be  within  the  extent  of  their  juriidi6lion,  by  fea  or  by  land, 
and  fhall  ufe  all  their  efforts  to  lecover,  and  caufe  to  be  reco- 
vered to  the  right  owners,  their  veifels  and  effe£ls  which  may 
have  been  taken  from  them  within  the  extent  of  their  faid  juril- 
di£lion,  whether  they  are  at  war  or  not  with  the  lubje£is  who 
have  taken  poircffion  of  the  faid  effcfts. 

Art.  VII.  And  it  is  agreed  that  the  fubjcSs  or  citizens  of 
each  of  the  faid  contrafting  parties,  their  veffels  or  effects,  fhall 
not  be  liable  to  any  embargo  or  detention  on  the  part  of  tlie 
other  for  any  military  expedition,  or  other  public  or  private 
purpofe  whatfoever.  And  in  all  cafes  of  feizure,  detention, 
or  arreft  for  debts  contrafted,  or  offences  committed  by  any 
citizen  or  fubjeft  of  the  one  party  within  the  jurildiftion  of 
■the  other,  the  fame  fhall  be  made  and  profecuted  by  order  and 
authority  of  law  only,  and  accoiding  to  the  regular  courfe  of 
proceedings   ufual    in   fuch   caies.      The   citizens  and  fubjefts  of 

3^2 


492 


TREATY  BETWEEN 


both  parties  fhall  be  allowed  fuch  advocates,  folicitors,  notaries, 
agents,  and  fa£lors,  as  they  judge  proper,  in  all  their  affairs, 
and  in  all  their  trials  at  law,  in  which  they  may  be  concerned 
before  the  tribunal  of  the  other  party,  and  fuch  agents  ihall 
have  free  accefs,  to  be  prefent  at  the  proceedings  in  fuch  caufes, 
and  at  the  taking  of  examinations  and  evidence  which  may  be 
exhibited  in  the  faid  trials. 

Art.  VIII.  In  cafe  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  of  either 
party,  with  their  fhipping,  whether  public  and  of  war,  or  pri- 
vate and  of  merchants,  be  forced,  through  firels  of  weather, 
purfuit  of  pirates  or  enemies,  or  any  other  urgent  neceffity  for 
taking  fhelter  and  harbour,  to  retreat  and  enter  into  any  of  the 
rivers,  bays,  roads,  or  ports  belonging  to  the  other  party,  they 
fliall  be  received  and  treated  with  all  humanity,  and  enjoy  all 
favour,  proteftion,  and  hf  Ip,  and  they  fhall  be  permitted  to  pro- 
vide themfelves,  at  reafonable  rates,  with  viftuals,  and  all  things 
needful  for  the  fuftenance  of  their  perions,  or  reparation  of 
their  fhips,  and  prolecution  of  their  voyage  ;  and  they  fhall  np 
■ways  be  hindered  from  returning  out  of  the  faid  ports  or  roads, 
but  may  remove  and  depart  when  and  whither  they  pleafe,  with- 
out any  let  or  hindrance. 

Art.  IX.  All  fliips  and  merchandize  of  whatever  nature 
foevcr,  which  fhall  be  refcued  out  of  the  hands  of  any  pirates 
or  robbers  on  the  high  feas,  fhall  be  brought  into  fome  port  of 
either  flate,  and  fhall  be  delivered  to  the  cuftody  of  the  ofHceis 
of  that  port,  in  order  to  be  taken  care  of,  and  reftored  to  the 
true  proprietor,  as  foon  as  due  and  fuf&cient  proof  fliall  be  made 
concerning  the  property  thereof. 

Art.  X.  When  any  vefTel  of  either  party  fhall  be  wrecked, 
foundered,  or  otharwife  damaged  on  the  coafls,  or  within  thes 
dominion  of  the  other,  their  refpcftive  iubje^ts  and  citizens 
fhall  receive,  as  well  for  themfelves  as  for  their  veiTcls  and  cr- 
fetis,  the  fame  afTi fiance  which  would  be  due  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  country  where  the  damage  happens,  and  fliall  pay  the 
fame  charges  and  duties  only  as  the  faid  inhabitants  would  be 
fubjeft  to  pay  ivi  a  like  cale  :  and  if  the  operation  of  repairs 
would  require  that  the  whole,  or  any  part  of  the  cargo  be  ur»- 
laden,  they  fliall  pay  no  duties,  charges,  or  fees  on  the  part 
which  fhall  relade  and  carry  away. 

Art.  XI.   The  citizens  and  fubjefts  of  each    party   fhall   have 

power  to  difpofe  of  their  perfonal  goods  within  the  jurifdiftion 

■^f  the  ether,   by  teflaments,  donations,  or  othei  wile,   and   their 

reprefentatives,   being  fubje£ls  or  citizens    of  the    other    party, 

uiuil  fucceed  to  their  faid  perlonal  goods,  whether  by  tsRamei^t 


5 PA  IN  A  ND  A  MER IC A.  49g 

or  al>  intejlato,  and  thev  may  take  pofTeffion  thereof,  either  by 
themlelves  or  others  afting  for  them,  and  dilpole  of  the  fame 
at  their  will,  paying  fale  duties  only,  as  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country  wherein  the  fame  goods  are,  or  fhail  be  lubjecl  to  pay 
in  like  cafes.  And  in  cafe  of  the  abience  of  the  rep^efentative, 
fuch  care  fhall  be  taken  of  the  laid  goods,  as  of  a  native  in  like 
cafe,  until  the  lawful  owner  may  take  meafures  for  receiving 
them;  and  if  queftions  fliould  arife  among  ieveral  claimants  to 
which  of  them  the  goods  belong,  the  lame  fhall  be  decided  by 
the  laws  and  judges  of  the  land  wherein  the  faid  goods  are. 
And  where,  on  the  death  of  any  perlon  holding  real  eftate  within 
the  territories  of  the  one  party,  luch  real  ellate  would,  by  the 
law  of  the  land, -delcend  on  a  citizen  or  fubjeft  of  the  other, 
were  he  not  dilqualified  by  being  an  alien,  luch  fubje(Et  fhall  be 
allowed  a  reafonable  time  to  iell  the  fame,  and  to  withdraw  the 
proceeds,  without  moleftation,  and  exempt  from  all  right  of 
detention  on  the  part  of  the,  government  of  the  relpe£tive 
States. 

Art.  XII.  The  merchant  fhips  of  either  party  which  (hall  be 
making  into  ports,  or  into  a  port  belonging  to  the  enemy  of  the 
other  party,  und  c#»cerning  whofc  voyage,  and  the  fpecies  of 
goods  on  board  her,  there  fliall  be  juft  grounds  of  fufpicion, 
fhall  be  obliged  to  exhibit,  as  well  upon  the  high  feas  as  in  the 
ports  and  havens,  not  only  her  paffport,  but  likewife  certifi- 
cates, exprefsly  fhewing  that  her  goods  are  not  of  the  number 
of  thoie  which  have  been  prohibited  as  contraband. 

Art.  XIII.  For  the  better  promoting  of  commerce  on  both 
fides,  it  is  agreed,  that  if  a  war  fhall  break  out  between  the 
two  laid  nations,  one  year  after  the  proclamation  of  war  fhall 
be  allowed  to  the  merchants  in  the  cities  and  towns  where  they 
fhall  live,  for  collefting  and  tranlporting  their  goods  and  mer- 
chandizes, and  if  any  thing  be  taken  from  them,  or  any  injury 
done  them  within  that  term,  by  either  party,  or  the  people  or 
fubjeds  of  either,  full  fatisfadlion  fhall  be  made  by  the  govern- 
ment. 

Art.  XIV.  No  fubjea  of  his  Catholic  M;ijefly  fhall  apply 
for,  or  take  any  commiflion  or  letters  of  marque,  for  arming 
any  fhip  or  fhips  to  aft  as  privateers  againfl  the  United  States, 
or  againfl  the  citizens,  people,  or  inhabitants  of  the  faid  United 
States,  or  againfl  the  property  of  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  any 
of  them,  from  any  Prince  or  State  with  which  the  United 
States  fhall  be  at  war.  Nor  fliall  any  citizen,  lubjeft,  or  inha- 
bitant of  the  faid  United  States,  apply  for,  or  take  any  commif- 
f>.ou.  oi  letters  of  ULuque,   for  arming  any   fliip    or  fliips,   to  ict 


^54  TREATY  BETIVSEN 

3S  privateers  sgainft  the  fubjefts  of  his  Catholic  Majefty,  or  the 
property  of  any  of  them,  from  any  Prince  or  State  with  which 
the  faid  King  fhall  be  at  war.  And  if  any  perfon  of  either  na- 
tion fhall  take  fuch  commilTion  or  letters  of  marque,  he  fhall  be 
punilhed  as  a  pirate. 

Art.  XV.  It  fhall  be  lawful  for  all  and  fingular  the  fubjefts 
of  his  Catholic  Majeft)',  and  the  citizens,  people,  and  inhabi- 
tants of  the  United  States,  to  fail  with  their  fhips,  with  all 
manner  of  liberty  and  fecurity,  no  difl.in£lion  being  made  who 
are  the  proprietors  of  the  merchandizes  laden  therein,  from  any 
port  to  the  places  of  thofe  who  now  are,  or  hereafter  fhall  be 
at  enmity  with  his  Catholic  Majefty  or  the  United  States,  It 
fhall  be  likewife  lawful  for  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  aforefaid, 
to  fail  with  the  fhips  and  merchandizes  aforc-mentioned,  and  to 
trade  with  the  fam«  liberty  and  fecurity,  from  the  places,  ports, 
or  havens  of  thofe  who  are  enemies  of  both  or  either  party, 
without  any  oppolition  or  difturbance  whatfoever,  not  only  from 
the  places  of  the  enemy  afore-mentioned  to  neutral  places,  but 
alfo  from  one  place  belonging  to  an  enemy,  to  another  place  bc- 
lonoing  to  an  enemy,  whether  they  be  under  the  jurifdiftion  of 
the  fame  Prince,  or  under  feveral  ;  and  ilHis  hereby  flipulated 
that  free  fliips  (hall  alfo  give  freedom  to  goods,  and  that  every 
thing  fliall  be  deemed  free  and  exempt  which  {hall  be  found  on 
board  the  (hips  belonging  to  the  fubjefts  of  either  of  the  con- 
trafting  parties,  although  the  whole  lading,  or  any  part  thereof, 
fhould  appertain  to  the  enemy  of  either;  contraband  goods  be- 
ing always  excepted.  It  is  alfo  agreed,  that  the  fame  liberty  be 
granted  to  perfons  who  are  on  board  a  free  fhip,  fo  that  although 
they  be  enemies  to  either  party,  they  fhall  not  be  made  prilon- 
ers,  or  taken  out  of  that  free  fhip,  unlefs  they  are  foldiers,  and 
in  aftual  fervice  of  the  dncmies. 

Art.  XVI.  This  liberty  of  navigation  and  commerce  fh^U 
extend  to  all  kinds  of  merchandizes,  excepting  thofe  only  which 
are  diflinguifhed  by  the  name  of  contraband  ;  and  under  this 
name  of  contraband,  or  prohibited  goody,  fhall  be  comprehended 
arms,  great  guns,  bombs,  with  their  fufes,  and  the  other  things 
belonging  to  them,  cannon  balls,  gunpowder,  match,  pikes, 
fwordy,  lances,  fpears,  halberls,  mortars,  petards,  grenades, 
falt-petie,  njullcets,  mufket  balls,  bucklers,  helmets,  breafl 
plates,  coats  of  mail,  and  the  like  kinds  of  arms,  proper  for 
arming  foldiers,  mulliet  rcfls,  belts,  horfes  with  their  furniture, 
and  all  other  warlike  inflruments  whatever.  Thefe  merchan- 
dizes  which  follow  fhall  not  be  reckoned  among  contraband  or 
prohibited   goods  i  tliat    is  to    fay,    all   forts   of  cloths,   and    ill 


SPAIN  AND  AMERICA.  495 

'Other  manufatlures  woven  of  any  wool,  flax,  (ilk,  cotton,  or  any 
other  materials  whatever,  all  kinds  of  wearing  apparel,  together 
with  all  fpecies  whereof  they  are  ufed  to  be  made  ;  gold  and 
filver,  as  well  coined  as  uncoined,  tin,  iron,  I'atten,  brafs,  cop- 
per, coals;  as  alio  wheat,  barley,  and  oats,  and  any  other  Jiind 
of  corn  and  pulfe  ;  tobacco,  and  likewife  all  manner  of  fpiccs, 
faked  and  fmoaked  flefh,  falted  filh,  cheefe  and  butter,  beer, 
oils,  wines,  lugar,  and  all  forts  of  fait  ;  and,  in  general,  all 
|)rovilions  which  lerve  for  the  fuftenance  of  life  :  furthe^ore, 
all  kinds  of  cotton,  hemp,  flax,  tar,  pitch,  ropes,  cables,  fails, 
fail  cloths,  anchors,  or  any  part  t>f  anchofs,  alfo  Ihip  mafts, 
planks,  and  wood  of  all  kinds,  and  all  things  proper  cither 
for  building  or  repairing  fnips,  and  all  other  goods  whatever 
which  have  not  been  worked  into  the  form  of  any  inftrumeht 
prepared  for  war  by  land  or  by  fca,  fhall  not  be  reputed  contra- 
band, much  lefs  fuch  as  have  been  already  wrought  and  made 
up  for  any  other  ufe  ;  all  which  fhall  be  wholly  reckoned  among 
free  goods  ;  as  likewife  all  other  merchandizes  and  things  which 
are  not  comprehended,  and  particularly  mentioned  in  the  fore- 
going enumeration  of  contraband  goods,  fo  that  they  may  be 
tranfported  and  carried  in  the  freefl  manner  by  the  fubjefts  of 
both  parties,  even  to  places  belonging  to  an  enemy,  luch  towns 
or  places  being  only  excepted  as  are  at  that  time  beheged,  blocked 
up,  or  invefted.  And  except  the  cafes  in  which  any  ihip  of 
war,  or  fquadron  fhall,  in  confequence  of  floims  or  other  acci- 
dents at  fea,  be  under  the  neceffity  of  taking  the  cargo  of  any 
trading  veffel  or  velTels,  in  which  cafe  they  may  flop  the  faid 
veffel  or  veffcls,  and  furnifh  themfelves  with  neceffarics,  giv- 
ing a  receipt  in  order  that  the  power  to  whom  the  faid  fliip  of 
war  belongs  may  pay  for  the  articles  fo  taken,  according  to  the 
price  thereof  at  the  port  to  Vvfhich  4.hev  may  appear  to  have 
been  deftined  by  the  Ihip's  papers  ;  and  the  two  contra£ting 
parties  engage,  that  the  veflels  ftiall  not  be  detained  longer  than 
may  be  abloluiely  neceffary  for  their  laid  Ihips  to  lupply  them- 
fclves  with  necellaries  ;  that  they  will  immediately  p-iv  the  \'a- 
lue  of  the  receipts,  and  iudcmn^ify  the  proprietor  for  iiU  iollca- 
which  he  may  have  lullained  in  confequence  of  fuch  tranfu- 
tion. 

Art,  XVII.  To  the  end  that  all  manner  of  dififentions  and 
■quarrels  may  be  avoided  and  prevented  on  one  fide  and  on  the 
other,  it  is  agreed,  that  in  cafe  either  of  the  parties  liereto 
fliould  be  engaged  in  a  war,  the  Ihips  and  vefTcls  belonging  :o 
fubjefts  or  people  of  the  other  party,  mull  be  furniibcd  wiili 
ica  letters  of  pafTports,  exprcfling  the  name,  property  and  bulk 


^o6  TREATY  BETWEEN 

of  the  fhip,  as  alfo  the  name  and  plice  of  habitation  of  tliis 
mafter  ori<:omin.ander  of  the  faid  fhip,  that  it  may  appear  there- 
by that  the  fliip  really  and  tiuly  belongs  to  the  fubjefts  of  one 
of  the  partiesj  which  paflport  (hall  be  made 'out  and  granted 
according  to  the  form  annexed  to  this  treatyj  They  (hall  like- 
wife  be  recalled  every  year,  that  is,  if  the  fhip  happens  to  le- 
turn  heme  within  the  fpace  of  a   year. 

It  is  likewife  agreed,  that  fuch  fhips  being  laden,  arc  to  be 
pro^yed  not  only  with  paffports  as  above-mentioned,  but  alio 
with  certificates,  containing  the  feveral  particulars  of  the  cargo, 
the  place  whence  the  ihip  failed,  that  ib  it  may  be  known 
\yhether  any  forbidden  or  contraband  goods  be  on  board  the 
fame  ;  which  certificates  fhall  be  nrade  out  bj'  the  officers  of 
the  place  whence  the  fhip  failed,  in  the  accuftomed  form;  and 
if  any  one  fhould  think  it  fit  or  advifable  to  cxprefs  in  the  faid 
certificates  the  perfon  to  whom  the  goods  on  board  belong,  he 
may  do  fo  ;  without  which  requifites  they  may  be  fent  to  one 
of  the  ports  of  the  other  contrafting  party,  and  adjudged  by 
the  competent  tribunal,  according  to  what  is  above  let  forth, 
that  all  the  circumdances  of  this  omifTion  having  been  well 
examined,  they  fliall  be  adjudged  to  be  legal  prizes,  unlels  they 
fliall  give  legal  fatisfatlion  oi  their  property  by  teflimony 
equally  equivalent. 

Art,  XVIII.  If  the  fhips  of  the  faid  fubjefts,  people  or 
inhabitants  of  either  of  the  parties  fhall  be  met  with,  either 
iailing  along  the  coafls  or  on  the  high  feas,  by  any  fliips  of  war 
of  the  other^  or  by  any  privateer,  the  faid  fhip  of  war  or  pii- 
^'atccr,  for  avoiding  any  diforder,  fliall  remain  out  of  cannon 
fhot,  and  may  fend  their  boats  on  board  the  merchant  fhip 
which  they  fliall  fo  meet  with,  and  may  enter  her  to  the  num- 
ber of  two  or  tlircc  men  only,  to  whom  the  mafler  or  com- 
mander of  fuch  fliip  or  veiTel  fliall  exhibit  his  paiTports  concern- 
ing the  property  of  the  fliip  niao'i  out  accorduig  to  the  form 
inlerted  in  this  prcfcnt  treaty-,  and  the  fiiip,  when  flie  fliall 
have  flicwn  fucli  paflport,  fliall  be  free  and  at  liberty  to  purfue 
her  voyage,  fo  as  it  fliall  not  be  lawful  to  molefl  or  give  her 
chace  in  any  manner,   or  force  her  to  quit  her  intended  courfe. 

Art.  XIX.  Co'ifuls  fhall  be  reciprocally  eflabiifhed  with  the 
privileges  and  power  which  thofe  of  the  moTc  favoured  nations 
erijoy  in  the  poits  where  their  confuls  refide  or  are  permitted 
to  be. 

Art.  XX.  It  i&  alfo  agreed  tiiut  the  inhabitr-nts  of  the  terri- 
tories of  each  party  fliall  refpcftivcly  have  free  accels  to  the 
couits   of  julticc    of  the    otlirr.  ^nd   th'-y    fnall  be  permitted  to 


SPAIN  AND  AMERICA.  497 

J^ro^ecute  fuits  for  the  recovery  of  their  property,  tVie  pnyment 
of  their  debts,  and  for  obtaining  fatisfaftion  for  the  damages 
which  they  have  fudained,  whether  the  perfons  whom  they  may 
fue  be  fubjefts  or  citizens  of  the  country  in  wliich  they  m'.y  be 
found,  or  any  other  perfons  whatever  who  may  have  taken 
refuge  therein  ;  and  the  proceedings  and  fentenccs  of  the  faid 
couits  fhall  be  the  fame  as  if  the  contending  parties  had  been, 
fubjefts  or  citizens  of  the  fdid  country. 

Art.  XXI.  In  order  to  terminate  all  difFerfcnces  on  account  of 
the  lofles  fuftained  by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  in  con- 
fequence  of  their  veltels  and  cargoes  having  been  taken  by  the 
fubjefts  of  his  Catholic  Majefty  during  the  late  war  between 
Spain  and  France,  it  is  agreed  that  all  fuch  cafes  fhall  be  referred 
to  the  final  decifion  of  commiffioncrs  to  be  appointed  in  the 
following  manner  :  His  Catholic  Majefly  fhall  appoint  one  com- 
miffioner,  and  the  Prefident  of  the  United  States,  by  and  with 
the  advice  and  cbnfent  of  the  Senate,  fhall  appoint  another, 
and  the  faid  two  commifiioners  fhall  agree  on  the  choice  of  a 
third,  or  if  they  cannot  agree  fo,  they  fhall  each  propofe  one 
perfon,  and  of  the  two  names  fo  propofed,  one  fhall  be  drawn 
by  lot  in  the  prefence  of  the  two  original  commifTioners,  and 
the  perfon  whole  name  fhall  be  drawn  fhall  be  the  third  com- 
mifTioner  ;  and  the  three  commifTioners  fo  appointed  fhall  be 
fworn  impartially  to  examine  and  decide  the  claims  in  queflion, 
according  to  the  merit  of  the  feveral  cafes,  and  to  juflice,  eaui- 
ty,  and  the  lav/s  ©f  nations.  The  laid  commifTioners  fhall  meet 
and  fet  at  Philadelphia  ;  and  in  cafe  of  death,  ficknefs  or  necef- 
fary  abfcnce  of  any  fuch  commifTioner,  his  place  fhall  be  fupplied 
in  the  fame  manner  as  he  was  firft  appointed,  and  the  new  com- 
mifTioner fhall  take  the  fame  oaths,  and  do  the  fame  duties. 
They  fliall  receive  all  complaints  and  applicationSj  authorized  by 
this  article,  during  eighteen  months  from  the  day  on  which  they 
fhall  aflemble.  They  fhall  have  power  to  examine  all  fuch  per- 
fons as  come  before  them  on  oath  or  affirmation,  touching  the 
complaints  in  queflion,  and  alfo  to  receive  in  evidence  all  writ- 
ten teflimony,  authenticated  in  fuch  a  manner  as  they  fhall  think, 
proper  to  require  or  admit.  The  award  of  the  faid  commifTion- 
ers, or  of  any  two  of  them,  fhall  be  final  and  conclufivc,  both 
as  to  the  juflice  of  the  claim  and  the  amount  of  the  fum  to  be 
paid  to  the  claimants  ;  and  his  Catholic  Majefty  undertakes  to 
caule  the  fame  to  be  paid  in  fpecie,  without  deduftion,  at  fuch 
time  and  places,  and  under  fuch  conditions  as  fhall  be  awarded 
by  the  fame  commifTioners. 

3S 


498  TREATY   OF 

Art.  XXII.  The  two  high  contrafting  parties  hoping  tha? 
the  good  correfpondence  and  friendfhip  which  happily  reigns 
between  them,  will  be  further  increafed  by  this  treaty,  and  that 
it  will  contribute  to  augment  their  profperity  and  opulence,  will 
in  future  give  to  their  mutual  commerce,  all  the  extenfion  and 
favour  which  the  advantages  of  both  countries  may  require. 

And  in  confeqiience  of  the  ftipulations  contained  in  the 
fourth  article,  his  Catholic  Majefly  will  permit  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States,  for  the  fpace  of  three  years  from  this  time, 
to  depofit  their  merchandizes  and  efFcfts  in  the  port  of  New- 
Orleans,  and  to  export  them  from  thence,  without  paying  any 
other  duty  than  a  fair  price  for  the  hire  of  the  (lores  ;  and  his 
Majefty  promifes,  either  to  continue  this  permiflion,  if  he  finds, 
during  that  time,  that  it  is  not  prejudicial  to  the  interefts  of 
Spain  ;  or  if  he  fhouki  not  agree  to  continue,  he  will  affign  to 
them  on  another  part  of  the  banks  of  the  Mifiiflippi,  an  equi- 
valent eftablifhmenti 

Art.  XXIII.  The  prefent  treaty  fliall  not  be  in  force  until 
ratified  by  the  contrafting  parties  ;  and  the  ratifications  fhall  be 
exchanged  in  fix  months  from  this  time,  or  fooner,  if  poflible. 

In  witncfs  whereof  we  the  underwritten  Plenipotentiaries  of 
his  Catholic  Majefly,  and  of  the  United  States  of  America,  have 
figned  this  treaty  of  friendfhip,  limits,  and  navigation,  and  have 
thereunto  afRxed  our  feals  refpeftively. 

Done  at  San  Lorenzo  et  Real,  this  feven  and  twentieth  day 
of  OSlobcr,    1795. 

THOMAS  PINCKNEY,  (l.  s.) 

PRINCE  DE  LA  PAZ.  (l.  s.) 


TREATY    OF 
AMITY   AND   COMMERCE, 

C0NCI.U3ED    BETWEEN 

HIS  MAJESTY  THE  KING  OF  SWEDEN,  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES 
OF  NORTH-AMERICA. 

T 

-L  HE  King  of  Sweden,  of  the  Goths  and  Vandals,  &c.  &c.  &c* 
and  the  Thirteen  United  States  of  North-America,  to  wit,  New- 
Hampfhire,  MafTachufetts-Bay,  Rhode-Ifland,  Connefticut,  New- 
York,  New-Jerfey,  Pennfylvania,  the  counties  of  Newcaflle, 
Kent    and    Suffex    on    Delaware.  Maryland,    Virginia,     North- 


AMITY  AND  COMMERCE,  455 

Carolina,  South-Carolina,  and  Georgia,  dcfiring  to  eflablifii  in  a 
ftable  and  permanent  manner  the  rules  which  ought  to  be  ob- 
ferved  relative  to  the  correfpondence  and  commerce  which  the 
two  parties  have  judged  neceflary  to  eftablifh  between  their  re- 
fpeftive  countries,  ftates  and  fubjtfts,  his  Majefty  and  the  United 
States  have  thought  that  they  could  not  better  accomplifh  that 
end  than  by  taking  for  a  balls  of  their  arrangements  the  mutual 
intereft  and  advantage  of  both  nations,  thereby  avoiding  all  thofe 
burthenfome  preferences,  which  are  ufuajly  fources  of  debate, 
embarraffment  and  difcontent,  and  by  leaving  each  party  at  li- 
berty to  make,  refpefting  navigation  and  commerce,  thofe  inte- 
rior regulations  which  fhall  be  moft  convenient  to  itfelf. 

With  this  view,  his  Majelly  the  King  of  Sweden  has  nomi- 
nated and  appointed  for  his  plenipotentiary.  Count  Guftavus 
Philip  de  Creutz,  his  ambaffador  extraordinary  to  his  Moft  Chrif- 
tian  Majefty,  and  knight  commander  of  his  orders  ;  and  the 
United  States,  on  their  part  have  fully  empowered  Benjamin 
Franklin,  their  minifler  plenipotentiary  to  his  Moft  Chriftian 
M:ijcfty  :  The  faid  plenipotentiaries,  after  exchanging  their  full 
powers,  and  after  mature  deliberation  in  confequence  thereof, 
have  agreed  upon,  concluded  and  figned  the  following  articles  : 

Article  I.  There  fhall  be  a  firm,  inviolable  and  univerfal  peace 
and  a  true  and  fincere  friendfhip  between  the  King  of  Sweden, 
his  heirs  and  fucceffors,  and  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
the  fubjefts  of  his  Majefty  and  thofe  of  the  faid  States,  and  be- 
tween the  countries,  iflands,  cities,  and  towns  ntuated  i>nder 
the  jurifdiftion  of  the  King  and  of  the  faid  United  States,  with- 
out any  exception  of  perfons  or  places  ;  and  the  conditions 
agreed  to  in  this  prefent  treaty,  fh;ill  be  perpetual  and  permanent 
between  the  King,  his  heirs  and  fuccelTors,  and  the  faid  United 
States. 

Art.  II.  The  King  and  the  United  Stales  engage  mutually,  not 
to  grant  hereafter  any  particular  favour  to  other  nations  in  re- 
fpeft  to  commerce  and  navigation,  which  fhall  not  immediately 
become  common  to  the  other  party,  who  fhall  enjoy  the  lame  fa- 
vour freely,  if  the  conceflion  was  freely  made,  or  on  allowing 
the  fame  compcnfation,  if  the  conceffion  was  conditional. 

Art,  III.  The  fubjecls  of  the  King  of  Sweden  ihM  not  pay  in 
the  ports,  havens,  roads,  countries,  iUands,  cities  and  towns  of 
the  United  States,  or  in  any  of  them,  any  other  nor  greater  du- 
ties or  impolls  of  what  nature  foever  they  may  be,  than  thofe 
vv'hich  the  moft  favoured  nations  are  or  ftiall  be  obliged  to  pay  : 
3nd  they  Ihall  enjoy  all  the'rights,  liberties,  privileges,  immuni^ 
{ies  and  exemptions  ia  trade,  navigation  and  commerce,  whicl> 

3  S  2 


5CO 


TREATY    OF 


the  faid  nations  do  or  fhall  enjoy,  whether  in  paffing  from  one 
port  to  another  of  the  United  States,  or  in  going  to  or  from  the 
fame,  from  or  to  any  part  of  the  world  whatever. 

Art.  IV,  The  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  of  the  faid  United  States 
0iall  not  pay  in  the  ports,  havens,  roads,  ifiands,  cities  and 
towns,  under  the  dominion  of  the  King  of  Sweden,  any  other 
or  greater  duties  or  impofls  of  what  nature  foever  they  may  be, 
or  by  what  name  foever  called,  than  thofe  which  the  mod  fa- 
voured nations  are  or  fhall  be  obliged  to  pay  ;  and  they  fhall  en- 
joy all  the  rights,  liberties,  privileges,  immunities  and  exemp- 
tions in  trade,  navigation  and  commerce,  which  the  faid  nations 
do  or  ihall  enjoy,  whether  in  pafTing  from  one  port  to  another 
of  the  dominion  of  his  faid  Majefty,  or  in  going  to  or  from 
the  fame,  from  or  to  any  part  of  the  world  whatever. 

Art.  V.  There  ftiall  be  granted  a  full,  perfeft  and  entire  li- 
berty of  conlcience  to  the  inhabitants  and  fubje£is  of  each  party, 
and  no  perlon  fliall  be  molefled  on  account  of  his  wovfhip,  pro- 
vided hp  fubmits  fo  far  as  regards  the  public  demonftration  of  it 
to  the  laws  of  the  country.  Moreover,  liberty  fliall  be  granted, 
when  any  of  the  fubjefts  or  inhabitants  of  either  party  die  in 
the  territory  of  the  other,  to  bury  them  in  convenient  and  de- 
cent places,  which  fliall  be  afTigned  for  the  purpole  ;  and  the 
two  contrading  parties  will  provide  each  in  its  jurifdiftion,  that 
the  lubje£is  and  inhabitants  refpcS;ively  may  obtain  certificates  of 
the  death,  in  cafe  the  deliveiy  of  them  is  required. 

Aft.  VI,  The  fubjetls  of  the  contra^ing  parties  in  the  refpec- 
tivc  States,  may  freely  difpofe  of  their  goods  and  effe£ls  either 
by  tellament,  donation  or  othcrwife  in  favour  of  luch  perfons  as 
they  think  proper  ;  and  their  heirs  in  whatever  place  they  fhall 
refide,  fhall  receive  the  fu(.ceflion  even  a!>  inteftato  either  in  pcr- 
fon  or  by  their  attorney,  without  having  occafion  to  take  out 
letters  of  naturalization.  Thele  inheritances,  as  weJl  as  the  ca- 
pitals and  effefts,  which  the  fubjc^s  of  the  two  parties,  in  chang- 
ing their  abode,  fhall  be  defirous  of  removing  from  the  place  of 
their  abode,  (hall  be  exempted  from  all  duty  called  "  dyoii  d& 
detraBion^"  on  the  part  of  the  government  of  the  two  ftates 
jefpcftivcly.  But  it  is  at  the  fame  time  agreed,  that  nothing 
coniamed  in  this  article  {hall  in  any  manner  dercg^te  from  tlie 
ordinances  publiftied  in  Sweden  againll  emigrations,  or  which 
may  hereafter  be  publiflicd,  which  iTiail  remain  in  full  force  ajid 
vigour.  The  United  States  on  their  part,  or  any  of  them,  fhall 
be  at  liberty  to  make  rclpe^ling  this  matter,  luch  laws  ai  ih<  y 
think  proper. 


AMITY  AI^D  COMMERCE.  501 

Art.  VII.  All  and  every  the  fubjefts  and  inhabitants  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Sweden,  as  well  as  thofe  of  the  United  States,  fhall  bs 
permitted  to  navigate  with  their  veffels  in  all  fafety  and  freedom, 
and  without  any  regard  to  thofe  to  whom  the  merchandize  and 
cargoes  may  belong,  from  any  port  whatever,  and  the  fubjecls 
and  inhabitants  of  the  two  ftates  Ihall  likewiie  be  permitted  to 
fail  and  trade  with  their  veflels,  and  with  the  fame  liberty  and 
fafety  to  frequent  the  places,  ports  and  havens  of  powers,  ene- 
mies to  both  or  either  of  the  contrafting  parties,  without  being 
in  any  wife  molefted  or  troubled,  and  to  carry  on  a  commerce 
not  only  direftly  from  the  ports  of  an  enemy  to  a  neutral  port,  but 
even  from  one  port  of  an  enemy,  to  another  port  of  an  enemy, 
whether  it  be  under  the  jurifdiftion  of  the  fame  or  of  different 
princes.  And  as  it  is  acknowledged  by  this  treaty  with  refpeft 
to  (hips  and  merchandizes  that  free  fhips  fhall  make  the 
inerchandizes  free,  and  that  every  thing  which  (hall  be  oa 
board  of  fhips  belonging  to  fubjefts  of  the  one  or  the  other 
of  the  contrafling  parties,  fhall  be  confidered  as  free,  even 
though  the  cargo  or  a  part  of  it  fhould  belong  to  the  enemies 
of  one  or  both  j  it  is  neverthelefs  provided  that  contraband 
goods  fhall  always  be  excepted  ;  which  being  intercepted,  fhall 
be  proceeded  againll  according  to  the  fpirit  of  the  following 
articles.  It  is  likewife  agreed,  that  the  fkme  liberty  be  extended 
;o  perfons  who  may  be  oa  board  a  free  fhip,  with  this  effeft  that 
although  they  be  enemies  to  both  or  either  of  the  parties,  they 
^all  not  be  taken  out  of  the  free  fhip,  unlefs  they  are  foldiers 
in  the  aftual  fervice  of  the  faid  enemies. 

Art.  VIII.  This  liberty  of  navigation  and  commerce  fhall  ex- 
tend to  all  kinds  of  merchandizes  except  thofe  only  which  arc 
expreffed  in  the  following  article  and  are  diflinguifhed  under 
;he  name  of  contraband  goods. 

Art.  IX.  Under  the  name  of  contraband  or  prohibited  goods, 
fhall  be  comprehended  arms,  great  guns,  cannon  balls,  arque^ 
bufes,  mufquets,  mortars,  bombs,  petards,  grenadoes,  faucilfes, 
pitch,  balls,  carriages  for  ordnance,  mufquet  refts,  bandoliers, 
cannon  powder,  matches,  falt-petre,  fulpher,  bullets,  pikes,  fabres, 
fwords,  morions,  helmets,  cuiraffes,  halberds,  javelins,  piflols 
and  their  holflers,  belts,  bayonets,  hoffes  with  their  harnefs, 
and  all  other  like  kind  of  arms  and  inftruments  of  war  for  the 
ufe  of  troops. 

Art.  X.  Thefe  which  follow  fliall  not  be  reckoned  in  the 
number  of  prohibited  goods,  that  is  to  fay  all  forts  of  cloths, 
and  all  othei  manufaftures  of  wool,  Hax,  filk,  cotton  or  any 
other  materials,  all  kinds  of  wearing  apparel  together  with  the 
things  of  which  they   are  tciKmonly  made ;  gold,  filver  coined 


5oa  TREATY  OP 

or  uncoined,  brafs,  Iron,  lead,  copper,  latten,  coals,  wheat 
barley,  and  all  forts  of  corn  or  pulfe,  tobacco,  all  kinds  of 
fpices,  fahed  or  fmoaked  flefh,  failed  fifh,  cheefe,  butter,  beer, 
oil,  wines,  fugar,  all  forts  of  fait  and  provifions  which  ferve 
for  the  nourifhment  and  luftenancc  of  man  ;  all  kinds  of  cotton, 
hemp,  flax,  tar,  pitch,  ropes,  cables,  fails,  fail-cloth,  anchors, 
and  any  parts  of  anchors,  fliip  mafls,  planks,  boards,  beams  and 
all  forts  of  trees  and  other  things  proper  for  building  or  repair- 
ing fhips;  nor  fhall  any  goods  be  confidered  as  contraband, 
which  have  not  been  worked  into  the  form  of  any  inflrument 
or  thing  for  the  purpofe  of  war  by  land  or  by  fea,  much  lefs 
fuch  as  have  been  prepared  or  wrought  up  for  any  other  ufe. 
All  which  fhall  be  reckoned  free  goods,  as  likewife  all  others 
which  are  not  comprehended  and  particularly  mentioned*  in  the 
fi)regoing  aKticle  ;  fo  that  they  fhall  not  by  any  pretended  inter^ 
pretation  be  comprehended  among  prohibited  or  contraband 
goods :  on  the  contrary  they  may  freely  be  tranfported  by  the 
fuhjefts  of  the  king  and  of  the  United  States,  even  to  places 
belonging  to  an  enemy,  fuch  places  only  excepted  as  are  be- 
fieged,  blocked  or  inveflcd,  and  thofe  places  only  fhall  be  con- 
fidered as  fuch,  which  are  nearly  furrounded  by  one  of  the 
belligerent  powers. 

Art.  XI.  In  order  to  avoid  and  prevent  on  both  fides  all  dif- 
putes  and  dilcord,  it  is  agreed  that  in  cafe  one  of  the  parties 
Jhould  be  engaged  in  a  war,  the  fhips  and  vefTels  belonging  to  the 
fjbjefts  or  inhabitants  of  the  other  fhall  be  furnifhed  with  fea- 
Ictiers,  or  palTports  expreffing  the  name,  property  and  port  of 
the  veffcl,  and  alfo  ths  name  and  place  of  abode  of  the  mailer 
or  commander  of  the  faid  vcfTcl,  in  order  that  it  may  thereby 
appear  that  the  faid  vefTel  really  and  truly  belongs  to  the  fubjefts 
of  the  one  or  the  other  party. — Thefe  paffports  which  fhall  be 
drawn  up  in  good  and  due  form,  fliiill  be  renewed  every  time 
the  velTel  returns  home  in  the  courfe  of  the  year. — -It  is  alfo 
agreed  that  the  faid  velTcls  when  loaded  fniiU  be  provided  not 
only  with  fea-letters  but  aifo  with  certificates  containing  a  par- 
ticular account  of  the  cargo,  the  place  from  which  the  vefl'el 
failed  and  that  of  her  dcflination,  in  order  that  it  may  be  known 
v/hcther  they  carry  any  of  the  prohibited  or  contraband  mer- 
chandizes mentioned  tn  the  ninth  ariicle  of  the  prelcnt  trcnty; 
which  certificates  fliall  be  made  out  by  the  officers  of  the  place 
from  which  the  veffel  fhull  depart. 

Art.  XII.  Although  the  velTels  of  the  cv^z  and  tlie  other 
party  may  navigate  freely  and  with  all  lafety,  as  is  explained  in 
the  Icveuth  article,  tliey  fhall  ncverthelefs  be  bound  at   all   time^ 


AMITY  AND  COMMERCE.  503 

Wlien  required  to  exhibit  as  well  on  the  high  feas  as  in  port,  their 
paffports  and  certificates  above  mentioned.  And  not  having  con- 
Jraband  merchandizes  on  board  for  an  enemy's  port,  they  may 
freely  and  without  hindrance  purfue  their  voyage  to  the  place 
of  their  deftination.  Neverthelefs  the  exhibition  of  papers 
fKall  not  be  demanded  of  merchant  fhips  under  convoy  of  veffels 
of  war,  but  credit  fhall  be  given  to  the  word  of  the  officer  com- 
manding the  convoy. 

Art.  XIII.   If  on  producing  the  faid  certificates,   it   be    difco- 
vered  that  the  veffel  carries  fome  of  the  goods  which  are  declared 
to  be  prohibited  or  contraband,  and   which  are   configned  to  an 
enemy's  port,  it  fhall  not  however,  be  lawful  to  break   up   the 
hatches  of  fuch  fhips,  nor  to  open  any  cheft,  coffers,  packs,  cafks 
or  veffe'.s,  nor  to  remove  or  difplace  the  fmallell  part  of  the  mer- 
chandizes, until  the  cargo  has   been  landed  in   the   prefence   of 
officers  appointed  for  the  purpoie,  and  until  an  inventory  thereof 
has  been  taken  ;  nor  fhall  it  be  lawful  to  fell,  exchange  or  alienate 
the  cargo  or  any  part  thereof,  until  legal  procefs  fhall   have  been 
had  againft  the  prohibited  merchandizes,  and  fentence  fhall  have 
{)afred  declaring  them  liable  to   confifcation,  faving  neverthelefs 
as  well  the  fhips  themfelves   as  the    other   merchandizes    which 
fhall  have  been  found  therein,   which   by  virtue  of   this  prefent 
treaty  are  to  be  eftcemed  free,  and  which  arc  not  to  be  detained 
on  pretence  of  their  having  been  loaded   with   prohibited  mer- 
chandize, and  much   lefs    confifcated  as  lawful  prize.     And  in 
cafe  the  contraband  merchandize  be   only  a  part  of  the    cargo, 
and  the  mafter  of  the  veffel  agrees,  confents  and  offers  to  deliv'er 
them  to  the  veffel  that  has  dilcovered  them,  in  that  cafe  the  lat- 
terj  after  receiving  the  merchandizes  which  are  good  prize,  fhall 
immediately  let  the  veffel  go,  and  fhall  not  by  any  means  hinder 
her  from  purfuing  her  voyage  to  the   place  of  her   deftinatior. 
When  a  veffel  is  taken  and  brought  into  any  of  the  ports  of  the 
contrafting  parties,  if  upon  examination  fhe  be  found  to  be  loaded 
only  with    merchandizes  declared  to  be  free,  the  owner  or  he 
who  has  made  the  prize,   fhall  be  bound  to  pay  all  cofts  and   da- 
mages to  the  mafler  of  the  veffel  unjuftly  detained. 

Art.  XIV.  It  is  likewife  agreed,  that  whatever  fhall  be  found 
to  be  laden  by  the  fubjefts  of  either  of  the  two  contrafting  par- 
ties, on  a  fhip  belonging  to  the  enemies  of  the  other  party,  the 
xvhole  effeft?,  although  not  of  the  number  of  thofe  declared 
contraband  fhall  be  confifcated  as  if  they  belonged  to  the  enemy, 
excepting  neverthelefs  fuch  goods  and  merchandizes  as  were 
put  on  board  before  the  declaration  of  war,  and  even  fix 
months  after   the  declaration,  after  which   term  none  fhall  be 


504 


TREA TY   0  F 


prefumed  to  be  ignorant  of  it,  which  merchandizes  fhall  riot  iri 
any  manner  be  fubjeft  to  confifcation,  but  fhiU  be  faithfully  and 
fpecifically  delivered  to  the  owners,  who  fhall  claim  or  caufe 
them  to  be  claimed  before  confifcation  and  fale,  as  alfo  their  pro- 
ceeds, if  the  claim  be  made  within  eight  months,  and  could  not 
be  made  fooner  after  the  fale,  which  is  to  be  public  :  Provided 
neverthelefs,  that  if  the  faid  merchandizes  be  contraband,  it 
fh^ill  not  be  in  any  wife  lawful  to  carry  them  afterwards  to  a  porfc 
belonging  to  the  enemy. 

Art.  XV.  And  that  more  effeftual  care  may  be  taken  for  ther 
fecurity  of  the  two  contrafting  parties,  that  they  fuffer  no  pre- 
judice by  the  men  of  war  of  the  other  party  or  by  privateers,  all 
captains  and  commanders  of  fhips  of  his  Swedifh  Majcfly  and  of 
the  United  States,  and  all  their  fubjcfts,  fliall  be  forbidden  to  do* 
any  injury  or  damage  to  thofe  of  the  other  party,  and  if  they 
aft  to  the  contrarj',  having  been  found  guilty  on  examination,  by 
their  proper  judges,  they  fhall  be  bound  to  make  fatisfaftiori 
for  all  damages  and  the  interefis  thereof,  and  to  make  them  good 
under  pain  and  obligation  of  their  perfons  and  goods. 

Art.  XVI.  For  this  caufe,  every  individual  who  is  dcfirous  of 
fitting  out  a  privateer,  fhall  before  he  receives  letters  patent,  or 
fpecial  commifTion,  be  obliged  t6  give  bond  with  fuffecient  fure- 
tiesj  before  a  competent  judge,  for  a  fufficient  fum  to  anfwer  all 
damages  and  wrongs  which  the  owner  of  the  privateer,  his  offi- 
cers or  others  in  his  employ,  may  commit  during  the  cruife, 
contrary  to  the  tenor  of  this  treaty,  and  contrary  to  the  edifts 
publiflied  by  either  party,  whether  by  the  King  of  Sweden,  or 
by  the  United  States,  in  virtue  of  this  fame  treaty,  and  alfo  un- 
der the  penalty  of  having  the  faid  letters  patent  and  fpecial 
commifTion  revoked  and  made  void. 

Art.  XVII.  One  of  the  contrafting  parties  being  at  war,  and 
the  other  remaining  neuter,  if  it  fhould  happen  that  a  merchant 
"  Ihip  of  the  neutral  poWer  be  taken  by  the  enemy  of  the  other 
party  and  be  afterwards  retaken  by  a  fhip  of  war  or  privateer 
of  the  power  at  war,  alfo  fliips  and  merchandises  of  what  nature 
foever  they  may  be,  when  recovered  from  a  pirate  or  fea  rover, 
fhall  be  brought  into  a  port  of  one  of  the  two  powers,  and  fhall 
be  committed  to  the  cullody  of  the  officers  of  the  faid  port,  that 
they  may  be  reflored  entire  to  the  tfue  proprietor  as  foon  as  h« 
fhall  have  produced  full  proof  of  the  property.  Merchants, 
tnafters  and  owners  of  fhips,  feamen,  people  of  all  forts,  fhips 
and  vefTels,  and  in  general  all  merchandizes  and  effefts  of  one  of 
the  allies  or  their  fubjt£l;s,  fliall  not  be  lubjcft  to  any  embargo, 
nor  detained   in  any  of  the  countries,  territories,   iflands,  cities, 


AMITY  AND  COMMERCE.  505 

towns,  ports,  rivers,  or  domains  whatever,  of  the  other  ally, 
on  account  of  any  military  expedition,  or  any  public  or  private 
purpofe  whatever,  by  leizure,  by  force,  or  by  any  fuch  man- 
ner;  much  lefs  ftiall  it  be  lawful  for  the  fubjefts  of  one  of  the 
parties  to  feize  or  take  any  thing  by  force,  from  the  fubjefts 
of  the  other  party,  without  the  eonlent  of  the  owner.  This 
however  is  not  to  be  underftood  to  comprehend  feizures,  deten*- 
tions  and  arrefts,  made  by  order  and  by  the  authority  of  jufticcj 
and  according  to  the  ordinary  courfe  for  debts  or  faults  of  the 
fubjeft;  for  which  procels  Ihall  be  had  in  the  way  of  right  ac- 
cording to  the  forms  of  juftice. 

Art.  XVIIl.  If  it  fhould  happen  that  the  two  contrafting 
parties  fliould  be  engaged  in  a  war  at  the  fame  time,  with  9. 
common  enemy,  the  following  points  (hall  be  obferved  on  both 
fides. 

ift.  If  the  fhips  of  one  of  the  two  nations  re-taken  by  the 
privateers  of  the  other,  have  not  been  in  the  power  of  the 
enemy  more  than  twenty-four  hours,  they  fhall  be  reftored  to 
the  original  owner  on  payment  of  one  third  of  the  Value  of  the 
fhip  and  cargo.  If  on  the  contrary,  the  vefTel  re-taken  has  been 
more  than  twenty-four  hours  in  the  power  of  the  enemy,  it 
ihall  belong  wholly  to  him  whcf  has  re-taken  it. 

2d.  In  cafe  during  the  interval  of  twenty-four  hours,  a  vef- 
iel  be  re-taken  by  a  man  of  warj  of  either  of  the  two  parties, 
it  {hall  be  reftored  to  the  original  owner  on  payment  of  a  thir* 
tieth  part  of  the  value  of  the  vefTel  and  cargo,  and  a  tenth  part 
of  it  has  been  re-taken  after  the  twenty-four  hours,  which  iums 
Iliall  be  diftributed  as  a  gratification  among  -.he  crew  of  the  men 
of  war,  that  Ihall  have  made  the  re-capture. 

3d.  The  prizes  made  in  manner  above  mentioned,  fhall  be 
reftored  to  the  owners  after  proof  made  of  the  property,  upon 
giving  fecurity  for  the  part  coming  to  him  who  has  recovered 
the  vefTel  from  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

4th.  The  men  of  war  and  privateers  of  the  two  nations  fhall 
reciprocally  be  admitted  with  their  prizes  into  each  others  povts.j 
but  the  prizes  fhall  not  be  unloaded  or  fold  there  until  the  lega- 
lity of  a  prize  made  by  Swedilli  fhips  fhall  have  been  determined 
according  to  the  laws  and  regulations  eftablifhed  in  Sweden,  as 
alio  that  of  the  prizes  made  by  American  velfels,  fhall  have  beea 
determined  according  to  the  laws  and  regulations  eftabUIhed  by 
the  United  States  of  America. 

,5.th.  Moreover  the  King  of  Sweden,  and  the  United  State?- 
of  America,  (hall  be  at  liberty  to  make  fuch  regulations  as  they 
{hill  judge  necefliry  refpe6ling  the  coiidu£l  which  their  men  of 

3T 


5o6  T  RE  ATY  0  P 

war  and  privateers  refpeftively  fhall  be  bound  to  obferve  tvittt 
regard  to  vcffels  which  they  fhall  take  and  carry  into  the  ports 
of  the  two  powers. 

Art.  XIX.  The  fnips  of  war  of  his  Swedifh  Majefty  and 
thofe  of  the  United  States,  and  alfo  thofe  which  their  fubjeft* 
fhall  have  armed  for  war  may  with  all  freedom  conduft  th« 
prizes  which  they  (liall  have  made  from  their  enemies  into  the 
ports  which  are  open  in  time  of  war  to  other  friendly  nations  ; 
and  the  faid  prizes  upon  entering  the  faid  ports,  fhall  not  be 
fubjeft  to  arreft  or  feizure,  nor  fhall  the  of&cers  of  the  place 
take  cognizance  of  the  validity  of  the  faid  prizes  which  may 
depart  and  be  condufled  freely  and  with  all  liberty  to  the  places 
pointed  out  in  their  commiffiofts,  which  the  captains  of  the  laid 
veffels  fhall  be  obliged  to  fhew. 

Art.  XX.  In  csrfc  any  vefvcl  belonging  to  either  of  the  two 
States,  or  to  their  fubjefts,  fhall  be  ftranded,  fhipwreeked,  or 
lufFer  any  other  damage  on  the  coafts  or  under  the  dominion  of 
either  of  the  parties,  all  aid  and  affiftance  fhall  be  given  to  the 
perfons  fhipwreeked,  or  who  may  be  in  danger  thereof,  and 
paffports  fhall  be  granted  to  them  to  fecure  their  return  to  their 
p\>*n  country.  The  fliips  and  merchandizes  wrecked,  or  their 
p/oceeds,  if  the  efFefts  have  been  fold,  being  claimed  in  a  year 
and  a  day,  by  the  owners  or  their  attorney,  fhall  be  reftored, 
on  their  paying  the  eofhs  of  falvage,  conforn>able  to  the  laws 
and  cuftoms  of  the  two  nations. 

Art.  XXI,  When  the  fubjeds  and  inhabitants  of  the  two 
parties,  with  their  veffels,  whether  they  be  public  and  equipped 
for  war,  or  private  r.r  employed  in  commerce,  fhall  be  forced 
by  tempefl,  by  purfuit  of  prii^ateers  and  of  enemies,  or  by  any 
T)lher  urgent  necefTity,  to  retire  and  enter  any  of  the  rivers, 
bays,  roads  or  ports  of  either  of  the  two  parties,  they  fhall  be 
received  and  treated  with  all  humanity  and  politenefs,  and  they 
•fliall  enjoy  nil  fiiendrnip,  prote£tIon  and  afTiftance,  and  they 
fhall  be  at  liberty  to  fupply  themfelves  with  refrefhmeats,  pro- 
viTions  and  every  thing  necefTary  for  their  fuftenance,  for  liic 
repair  of  their  vefTcls,  and  for  continuing  their  voyage  ;  pro- 
vided always,  that  they  pay  a  reafonable  price  :  And  they  fhall 
not  in  ijny  manner  be  detained  or  hindered  from  failing  out  of 
the  laid  ports  or  roads,  but  they  may  retire  and  depart  when 
and  as  they  pleafe,  without  any  obftacle  or  hindrance. 

.Art.  XXII.  In  order  to  favour  commerce  on  both  fides  as 
T^uch  as  pofiible,  it  is  agreed,  that  in  cafe  a  war  fhould  break 
cut  between  the  faid  two  nations,  which  God  forbid,  the  term 
of  nine  months  after  the  declaration    of  war,   fhall    be   allowed 


AMITY  AND  COMMERCE.  507 

to  the  merchants  and  fubjefts  refpeftively  on  one  fide  and  the 
other,  in  order  that  they  may  withdraw  with  their  effefts  and 
moveables,  which  they  {hall  be  at  liberty  to  carry  off  or  to  lell 
where  they  pleafe,  without  the  leaft  obftacle;  nor  fhall  ijiy 
{die  their  efFefts,  and  much  lefs  their  per  Ions,  during  the.  faid 
nine  months ;  but  on  the  contrary,  paffports  which  fhall  be  va- 
lid for  a  time  neceffary  for  their  return,  Ihall  be  given  them  for 
their  veffels,  and  the  effefts  which  they  fliail  be  willing  to  carry 
with  them.  And  if  any  thing  is  taken  from  them,  or  if  any 
injury  is  done  to  them  by  one  of  the  parties,  their  people  and 
fubjefts,  during  the  term  above-prefcribed,  full  and  entire  la- 
tisfaftion  fhall  be  made  to  them  on  that  account.  The  above- 
mentioned  paffports  fhall  alfo  ferve  as  i  fafe  conduft  againft  all 
infults  or  prizes  which  privateers  may  attempt  againft  their  per- 
fons  and  efFefts. 

Art.  XXIII.  No  fubjeft  of  the  King  of  Sweden  fhall  take  a 
commifTion  or  letters  of  marque  for  arming  any  veffel  to  aft  as 
a  privateer  againft  the  United  States  of  America,  or  any  of 
them,  or  againfl  the  fubjefls,  people  or  inhabitants  of  the  faid 
United  States,  or  any  of  them,  or  againft  the  property  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  faid  States,  from  any  prince  or  State  what- 
ever, with  whom  the  faid  United  States  fhall  be  at  war.  Nor 
fiiall  any  citizen,  fubje£t  or  inhabitant  of  the  faid  UnitM  States, 
or  any  of  them,  apply  for  or  take  any  commifTion  or  letters  of 
marque  for  arming  any  vciTel  to  cruife  againft  the  fuhjefts  of  his 
Swedifh  Majefly,  or  any  of  them,  or  their  property,  from  any 
prince  or  State  whatever  with  whom  his  faid  Majefly  Ihall  be 
at  war.  And  if  any  perfon  of  either  nation  fhall  take  fucK 
commiffions  or  letters  of  marque,  he  fhall  be  punifhed  as  a  pirate. 

Art,  XXIV.  The  veffels  of  the  fubjefts  of  either  of  the 
parties  coming  upon  any  of  the  coafls  belonging  to  the  other, 
but  not  willing  to  enter  into  port,  or  being  entered  into  port 
and  not  willing  to  unload  their  cargoes  or  to  break  bulk,  fhall  not 
be  obliged  to  do  it,  but  on  the  contrary  fhall  enjoy  all  the  fran- 
chifes  and  exemptions  which  are  granted  by  the  rules  fubfifl- 
ing  with  refpeft  to  that  objeft. 

Art.  XXV.  When  a  veffel  belonging  to  the  fubjcfls  and  in- 
habitants of  either  of  the  parties,  failing  on  the  high  fea,  fli^U 
be  met  by  a  fhip  of  war  or  privateer  of  the  other,  the  faid  fhip 
of  war  or  privateer,  to  avoid  all  diiordei',  fhali  lemain  out  of 
cannon  fliot,  but  may  always  fend  their  boat  to  the  merchant 
fhip,  and  caufe  two  or  three  men  to  go  on  board  of  her,  to  whom 
the  mailer  or  commander  of  the  faid  veffel  fhall  exhibit  his  paff- 
port,  ftating  the  property  of  the  veflcl ;  and  when  the  laid  veffel 

3  T  a 


5o8  TREATY  OF 

fhall  have  exliibited  her  pafTport,  (hc^  fhall  be  at  liberty  to  con- 
tinue her  voyage,  and  it  fhaii  not  be  lawful  to  moled  or  fearch; 
her  in  any  manner,  or  to  give  her  chace  or  force  her  to  quit  her, 
intended  courfe. 

Art.  XXVI.  The  two  contrafting  parties  grant  mutually  the 
liberty  of  having  each  in  the  ports  of  the  other,  confuls,  vice- 
coniuls,  agents  and  commiffaries,  whole  funftions  fhall  be  regu- 
lated  by  a  particular  agreement. 

Art.  XXVII.  The  prefent  treaty  fhall  be  ratified  on  both 
fides,  and  tlie  ratifications  fhall  be  exchanged  in  the  fpace  of 
eight  months,  or  fooner  if  pofTible,  counting  from  the  day  of 
the  fignature. 

In  faith  whereof,  the  refpeftive  Plenipotentiaries  have  figncd 
the  above  articles,  and  have  thereunto  affixed  their  feals. 
Done  at  Paris,   the  third  day  of  April,  in    the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  eighty. three. 
G.  PHILIP  Comte  de  CREUTZ,  (L.  S.) 

B.  FRANKLIN.  (L.  S.) 

SEPARATE  ARTICLE, 
The  King  of  Sweden  and  the  United  States  of  North-Ame- 
rica, agree  that  the  prefent  treaty  fhall  have  its  full  effeft  for 
the  fpace  of  fifteen  years,  counting  from  the  day  of  the  ratifi- 
cation, and  the  two  contrafting  parties  referve  to  themfelves 
the  liberty  of  renewing  it  at  the  end  of  that  term. 

Done  at  Paris,  the  third  of  April,   in  the  year   of  our   Lord, 
one  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  eighty-three. 

G.   PHILIP  Comte  de  CREUTZ,  (L.  S.) 

B.  FRANKLIN.  (L.  S.> 

SEPARATE    ARTICLES. 

Art.  I.  His  Sv/edifh  Majefly  fliall  ufe  all  the  means  in  his 
pov/er  to  proteft  and  defend  the  vefTels  and  effects  belonging 
to  citizens  or  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  of  North-Ame- 
rica, and  every  of  them  which  fliall  be  in  the  ports,  havens, 
roads,  or  on  the  ieas  near  the  countries,  iflands,  cities  and  towns, 
of  his  faid  Majefly,  and  fhall  ufe  his  utmoft  endeavours  to  re- 
cover and  reflore  to  the  right  owners,  all  fuch  velfels  and 
elfefts,  which  fhall  be  taken  from  them  within  his  jurif- 
diftion. 

Art.  II.  In  like  manner,  the  United  States  of  North- America. 
Ciall  proteft  ar.d  defend  the  velTels  and  effefts  belonging  to  the 


AMITY  AND  COMMERCE. 


509 


fubjefts  of  his  Swedifh  Majefty,  which  fhall  be  in  the  ports, 
havens  or  roads,  or  on  the  feas  near  to  the  countries,  iflands, 
cities  and  towns  of  the  faid  States,  and  fhall  ufe  their  utmoft 
efforts  to  recover  and  reftore  to  the  riglit  owners  all  iuch  vef- 
fels  and  efFe<Els  which  (hall  be  taken  from  them,  within  their 
jurifdiftion. 

Art.  III.  If  in  any  future  war  at  fea,  the  contrafting  powers 
refolve  to  remain  neuter,  and  as  fuch,  to  oblerve  the  ftiifteft 
neutrality,  then  it  is  agreed,  that  if  the  merchant  fhips  of  ei- 
ther party,  fhould  happen  to  be  in  a  part  of  the  fea  where  the 
Jhips  of  war  of  the  fame  nation  are  not  Rationed,  or  if  they 
are  met  on  the  high  fea,  without  being  able  to  have  recourfe  to 
their  own  convoys,  in  that  cafe  the  commander  of  the  fhips  of 
war  of  the  other  party,  if  required,  fhall  in  good  faith  an4 
fincerity  give  them  all  neceffary  afliftance,  and  in  fuch  cafe,  the 
(hips  of  war  and  frigates  of  either  of  the  powers,  fhall  proteft 
and  fupport  the  merchant  fhips  of  the  other  :  Provided  never- 
'  thelefs,  that  the  fhips  claiming  afTiftance  are  not  engaged  in  any 
illicit  commerce  contrary  to  the  principles  of  the  neutrality. 

Art.  IV.  It  is  agreed  and  concluded  that  all  merchants,  cap- 
tains of  merchant  (jliips,  or  other  fubjefts  of  his  Swedifh  Ma- 
jefly,  fhall  have  full  liberty  in  all  places  under  the  dominion 
or  jurildiftion  of  the  United  States  of  America,  to  manage  their 
own  affairs  and  to  employ  in  the  management  of  them  whom- 
foever  they  pleafe  ;  and  they  fhall  not  be  obliged  to  make  ufe  of 
any  interpreter  or  broker,  nor  to  pay  them  any  reward  unlefs 
they  make  ufe  of  them.  Moreover,  the  mafters  of  fhips  fhall 
not  be  obliged  in  loading  or  unloading  their  vefTels,  to  employ 
labourers  appointed  by  public  authority  for  that  purpofe  ;  but 
they  fhall  be  at  full  liberty,  themfelves  to  load  or  unload  their 
veffels,  or  to  employ  in  loading  or  unloading  them  whomfoever 
they  think  proper,  without  paying  reward  under  the  title  of 
falary  to  any  other  perfon  whatever  ;  and  they  fhall  not  be 
obliged  to  turn  over  any  kind  of  merchandizes  to  other  veffels, 
nor  to  receive  them  on  board  their  own,  nor  to  wait  for  their 
loading  longer  than  they  pleafe,  and  all  and  every  of  the  citi- 
zens, people  and  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
fhall  reciprocally  have  and  enjoy  the  fame  privileges  and  liber- 
ties in  all  places  under  the  jurifdiftion  of  the  faid  realm. 

Art.  V.  It  is  agreed  that  when  merchandizes  fliall  have  been 
put  on  board  the  fhips  or  veffels  of  either  of  the  contrafting 
parties,  they  fhall  not  be  fubjefted  to  any  examination  :  but  all 
examination  and  fearch  muff  be  before  lading,  and  the  prohi- 
]pited  merchandizes  muff  be  ftopped  on  the  fpot  before  they  are 


5io  TREATY  OF 

embarked,  unlefs  there  is  full  evidence  or  proof  of  fraudulent 
pra£tice  on  the  part  of  the  owner  of  the  fhip,  or  of  him  who 
has  the  command  of  her.  In  which  cafe  only  he  fhall  be  re- 
fponfible  and  fubjeft  to  tha  laws  of  the  country  in  which  he 
may  be.  In  all  other  cafes  neither  the  fubjefts  of  cither  of  the 
contra£ling  parties,  who  fhall  be  with  their  veffels  in  the  ports 
of  the  other,  nor  their  merchandizes  (hall  be  feized  or  molefled 
on  account  of  contraband  goods,  which  they  fhall  have  wanted 
to  take  on  board,  rior  fhall  any  kind  of  embargo  be  laid  on  their 
{hips,  fubjefts  or  citizens  of  the  ftate  whofe  merchandizes  are 
declared  contraband,  or  the  exportation  of  which  is  forbidden, 
tliofc  only  who  fhall  have  fold  or  intended  to  fell  or  alienate 
fuch  merchandizes,  being  liable  to  punifhment  for  fuch  con- 
travention. 

Done  at  Paris,   the  third    day    of  April,   in   the  year   of  our 
Lord,   one  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  eighty-three. 
G.  PHILIP  Comte  de  CREUTZ,  (L.  S.) 

]3.  FRANKLIN.  (L.  S.) 

■■<  ■.<  ..<  .^  ^i-  »>>i<4*  ^  >••  >  •  >••  >■■ 

GEORGE    WASHINGTON, 

PRESIDENT    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES    Of    AMERICA. 

To  all  whom  tkefz  txejmts  Jliall  come,  greeting. 


HEREAS  a  Treaty  of  Peace  and  Amity  has  been  con-? 
eluded  la  the  manner  herein-after-mentioned,  by  the  Plenipo- 
tentiary of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  Dey  and  Re- 
gency of  Algiers ;  which  Treaty,  written  in  the  Arabic  lan- 
guage, being  tranflated  into  the  language  of  the  United  States, 
is  in  the  words  following,   to  wit  ; 

A  Treaty  of  Peace  and  Acuity  concluded  this  prcfent  day  lima  artaft^ 
the  twenty -jirji  of  the  Luna  Safer  year  oj  the  Hegira  1210,  cor- 
refponding  zoith  Saturday  the  fifth  of  Septeviber,  one  thoufand 
feuen  hundred  and  ninety  five,  between  Haffan  BafJiaw,  Dey  of 
Algiers,  his  Divan  andfubjects,  and  George  IVafhington,  Prefi- 
dent  of  the  United  States  of  North- America,  and  the  citizens  of 
the  f aid  United  States, 

Article  I.  From  the  date  of  the  prefent  Treaty,  there  fliall 
fubfift  a  firm  and  fincere  peace  and  amity  between  the^  Prefident 
and  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  North-Amerrc3,'ahd  Haifan 
Bafhaw,  Dey  of  Algiers,  his  Divan  ar.d  iubjetls  ;  the  valfals; 
and  fubjcfls  of  both  nations  reciprocally  treating  each  btltcr  with 
civility,  honour,  jSnd  relpeft. 


PEACE  AND  AMITY.  511 

Art.  II.  All  veffels  belonging  to  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States  of  North-America,  (hall  be  permitted  to  enter  the  dif- 
ferent ports  of  the  Regency,  to  trade  with  our  fubjefts,  or  any 
other  perfons  refiding  within  our  jurifdiftion,  on  paying  the 
Ufual  duties  at  our  cuftom-houfe  that  is  paid  by  all  nations  at 
peace  with  this  Regency  ;  obferving,  that  all  goods  difembarked, 
and  not  fold  here,  fliall  be  permitted  to  be  re-embarked,  with- 
out paying  any  duty  whatever,  either  for  difembarking  or  em- 
barking. All  naval  and  military  (lores,  fuch  as  gun -powder, 
lead,  iron,  plank,  fulphur,  timber  for  building,  tar,  pitch,  rofin, 
turpentine,  and  any  other  goods  denominated  naval  and  military 
(lores,  (hall  be  permitted  to  be  fold  in  this  Regency,  without 
paying  any  duties  whatever  at  the  cuftom-houfe  of  this  Regency. 

Art.  Ill,  The  veffels  of  both  nations  to  pafs  each  other  with- 
out any  impediment  or  moleftation  ;  and  all  goods,  monies  or 
paffengers,  of  whatfoever  nation,  that  may  be  on  board  of  the 
veffels  belonging  to  either  party,  (hall  be  confidered  as  inviola- 
ble, and  fhall  be  ailo'.ved  to  pafs  unmolefled. 

Art.  IV.  All  fhips  of  war,  belonging  to  the  Regency,  on 
meeting  with  merchant  veffels  belonging  to  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  fhall  be  allowed  to  viftt  them  with  two  perfons  only  be- 
fide  the  rowers  ;  thefe  two  only  permitted  to  go  on  board  faid 
veffel,  without  obtaining  exprefs  leax'e  from  tlie  commander  of 
faid  veflTel,  who  fhall  compare  the  paffport,  and  immediately  per- 
mit faid  vefTel  to  proceed  on  her  voyage  unmolefled.  All  fhips 
of  war  belonging  to  the  United  States  of  North-America,  on 
meeting  with  an  Algerine  cruifer,  and  fliall  have  feen  her  pafT- 
port  and  certificate  from  the  Conful  of  the  United  States  of 
North-America,  refiding  in  this  Regency,  (hall  be  permitted  to 
proceed  on  her  cruife  unmolefled  :  no  paffport  to  be  ifTued  to 
any  fliips  but  fuch  as  are  abfolutely  the  property  of  citizens  of 
the  United  States  ;  and  eighteen  months  flvall  be  the  term  al- 
lowed for  furnifhing  the  (hips  of  the  United  States  with  pafl- 
ports. 

Art,  V.  No  commander  of  any  cruifer  belonging  to  this'  Re- 
gency, fhall  be  allowed  to  take  any  perfon,  of  whatever  nation 
or  denomination,  out  of  any  veffel  belonging  to  the  United  States 
of  North-America,  in  order  to  examine  them,  or  under  pretence 
of  making  them  confefs  any  thing  defired  ;  neither  fhall  they 
inflift  any  corporal  punifbment  or  any  way  el fe  moled  them. 

Art^  yi.,  If  any  veffel  belonging  to  the  United  States  of 
North-America,,  fhall  be  ftranded  on  the  coaft  of  this  Regency, 
they  (hall  receive  every  pofHble  afTiflance  from  the  iubjefts  of 
this  Regency  :   all  goods  faved  from  the  v»  reck  foallbe  perjtnitted 


g42  TREATY  OF 

to  be  re-embarked  on  board  of  any  other  veffel,  without  paying 
any  duties  at  the  cuflom-houfe. 

Art.  VII.  The  Algerines  are  not,  on  any  pretence  what- 
ever, to  give  or  fell  any  vcflel  of  war  to  any  nation  at  war  with 
the  United  States  of  North-America,  or  any  veffel  capable  of 
cruifins  to  the  detriment  of  the  commerce  of  the  United  States. 
Art.  VIII.  Any  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  North- 
America,  having  bought  any  prize  condemned  by  the  Algerines, 
fhail  not  be  ag^in  captured  by  the  cruifers  of  the  Regency  then 
at  feS,  although  they  have  not  a  palTport  ;  a  certificate  from  the 
Conful  refident  being  deemed  lufficient,  until  fuch  time  as  they 
can  procure  fuch  palTport. 

Art.  IX.  If  any  of  the  Barbary  dates  at  war  with  the  United 
States  of  North-America,  fhall  capture  any  American  'veffel, 
and  bring  her  into  any  of  the  ports  of  this  Regency,  they  fhall 
not  be  permitted  to  fell  her,  but  fhall  depart  the  port  on  pro- 
curing the  requiftte  fupplies  of  provifion. 

Art.  X.  Any  vefful  belonging  to  the  Uoitcd  States  of  North- 
America,  when  at  war  with  any  other  nation,  fliall  be  permitted 
to  fend  their  prizes  into  the  ports  of  the  Regency,  and  have 
leave  to  difpole  of  them,  without  paying  any  duties  on  fale 
thereof.  All  vefTels  wanting  provifions  or  refrelhments,  fhall  be 
permitted  to  buy  them  at  market  price. 

Art.  XI.  All  (hips  of  war  belonging  to  the  United  States  of 
North-America,  on  anchoring  in  the  ports  of  this  Regency,  (hall 
receive  the  ufual  prefents  of  provifions  and  refrefhments,  gratis. 
Should  any  of  the  flaves  of  this  Regency  make  their  efcape  on 
board  faid  veffels,  they  Ihall  be  immediately  returned  :  No  ex- 
cufc  Ihall  be  made  that  they  have  hid  themlelves  amongft  the 
people  and  cannot  be  found,   or  any  other  equivocation. 

Art.  XII,  No  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  America  fhall 
beobligcd  to  redeem  any  (lave  againil  his  will,  even  fhould  he 
be  his  brother:  neither  fliall  the  ov/ner  of  a  flave  be  forced  to 
iell  him  againft  his  will  :  but  all  fuch  ngreements  muft  be  .made 
by  conlcnt  of  parties.  Should  any  American  citizen  be  tdken 
on  board  an  enemy's  fhip,  by  the  cruifers  of  this  Regency,  hav- 
ing a  regular  paCTport,  fpecifying  they  are  citizens  of  the  United 
Slates,  they  fhall  be  immediately  let  at  liberty.  On  the  con- 
trarv,  if  they  have  no  palfport,  they  and  their  property  fhall  be 
conhdered  lawful  prize,  as  this  Regency  know  their  friends  by 
their  palTports. 

Art.  XIII.  Should  any  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
of  North-America,  die  within  the  limits  of  this  Regency,  the 
.Dey  and  his  fubjefts  fliall  not   interfere    with   the   property  of 


PEACE  AND  AMITY,  513 

the  deceafed  ;  but  it  fhall  be  under  the  immediate  direftion  of 
the  Conful,  unlefs  otherwife  difpofed  of  by  will.  Should  there 
be  no  Conful.  the  effefts  fhall  be  depofited  in  the  hands  of  fome 
perfon  worthy  of  truft,  until  the  party  fhull  zppear  who  has  a 
right  to  demand  ihem,  when  they  {hall  render  an  account  of  the 
property:  neither  fhall  the  Dey  or  Divan  give  hindrance  in  the 
execution  of  any  will  that  may  appear. 

Art.  XIV.  No  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  North- America 
fhall  be  obliged  to  purchafe  any  goods  againft  his  will  ;  but  on 
the  contrary,  fhall  be  allowed  to  purchafe  whatever  it  plealetli 
him.  The  Conful  of  the  United  States  of  North-America,  or 
any  other  citizen,  fhall  not  be  amendable  for  debts  contr?£tcd  by 
any  one  of  their  own  nation,  unlefs  previoufly  they  have  given 
a  written  obligation  (o  to  do.  Should  the  Dey  want  to  freight 
any  American  veflel  that  may  be  in  the  Regency,  or  Turkey, 
faid  veffcl  not  being  engaged  ;  in  confequence  of  the  fiiendHiip 
fubfifting  between  the  two  nations,  he  expefts  to  have  the  pre- 
ference given  him,  on  his  paying  the  fame  freight  offered  by  any 
other  nation. 

Art.  XV.  Any  difpute  or  fuits  at  law,  that  may  lake  place  be' 
tween  the  fubjefts  of  the  Regency  and  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States  of  North- America,  fhall  be  decided  by  the  Dey  in  pericn, 
and  no  other.  Any  difputes  that  may  arife  between  thecitizens 
of  the  United  States,  fhall  be  decided  by  the  Conful ;  as  they 
are  in  fuch  cafes  not  fubjeft  to  the  laws  of  this  Regency. 

Art.  XVI.  Should  any  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  North- 
America  kill,  wound,  or  ftrike  a  fubjcft  of  this  Regency,  he 
fhall  be  punifhed  in  the  fame  manner  as  a  Turk,  and  not  v^^ith 
more  feverity.  Should  any  citizen  of  the  United  States  of 
North-America,  in  the  above  predicament,  efcape  prifon,  the 
Conful  fhall  not  become  anfvverable  for  him. 

Art.  XVII.  The  Conful  of  the  United  States  of  North-Ame- 
rica fhall  have  every  perfonal  fecurity  given  him  and  his  houfe- 
hold  ;  he  fhall  have  liberty  to  exercife  his  religion  in  his  own 
houfe.  All  flaves  of  the  fame  religion  fhall  not  be  impeded  in 
going  to  faid  Conful's  houfe,  at  hours  of  prayer.  The  Conful 
fhall  have  liberty  and  perfonal  fecurity  given  him  to  travel  when- 
ever he  pleafes,  within  the  Regency  ;  he  fhall  have  free  licence 
to  go  on  board  any  veffel  lying  in  our  roads,  whenever  he  flrili 
think  fit.  The  Conful  fhall  have  leave  to  appoint  his  own 
Drogaman  and  Broker. 


U 


5*4 


TREATY    OF 


Art.  XVIII.  Should  a  war  break  out  between  the  two  na- 
tions, the  Conful  of  the  United  States  of  North-America,  and 
all  citizens  of  faid  States,  fhall  have  leave  to  embark  themfelves 
and  property  untnolelled,  on  board  of  what  veflfel  or  yeffels  they 
fliall  think  proper. 

Art.  XIX.  Should  the  cruifers  of  Algiers  capture  any  vefTels 
having  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  America  on  board!,  they 
having  papers  to  prove  they  are  really  fo,  they  and  their  property 
Ihall  be  inirnediately  difcharged.  And  fliouid  the  veffels  of  the 
United  States  capture  any  vcflfeU  of  nations  at  war  with  them, 
having  lubjefts  of  this  Regency  on  board,  they  fliall  be  treated 
in  like, manner. 

Art.  XX.  On  a  vefifel  of  war  belonging  to  the  United  States 
of  North-America,  anchoring  in  our  ports,  the  Conful  is  to  in- 
form the  Dey  of  her  arrival,  and  fhe  fliall  be  fnluted.  with 
twenty-one  guns ;  which  fhe  is  to  return  in  the  fame  quantity 
or  number.  And  the  Dey  will  fend  frefh  provifions  on  board, 
as  is  cuffcomary,  gratis. 

Art.  XXI.  The  Conful  of  the  United  States  of  North-Ame- 
rica fhall  not  be  required  to  pay  duty  for  any  thing  he  brings 
from  a  foreign  country  for  theufe  of  his  houfe  and  family. 

Art.  XXII.  Should  any  difturbancc  take  place  betv/een  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States  and  the  fubjefts  of  this  Regency,  or 
Jareak  any  article  ot  this  treaty,  war  fhall  not  be  declared  imme- 
diately ;  but  every  thing  fliall  be  fearched  into  regularly,  fo  that 
the  party  injured  fliall  be  made  reparation. 

On  the  sifl:  of  the  Luna  of  S.ifer,  1210,  correfponding  with 
the  5th  of  September,  1795,  Jofeph  Donaldfon,  jun.  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States  of  North-America,  agreed  with  Haffan  Ba- 
fhaw,  Dey  of  Algiers,  to  keep  the  articles  contained  in  this 
treaty  facred  and  inviolable ;  which  we,  the  Dey  and  Divar,, 
promife  to  oblerve,  on  confjdeiation  of  the  United  States  paying 
annually  the  value  of  twelve  thoufand  Algerine  fequins  in  mari- 
time {lores.  Should  the  United  States  forward  a  larger  quantity, 
the  overplus  fhall  be  paid  for  in  money,  by  the  Dey  and  Re- 
gency. Any  vefTel  that  may  be  captured  from  the  date  of  this 
treaty  of  peace  and  amity,  fliall  immediately  be  delivered  up  on 
her  arrival  in  Algiers. 

(Sic^ncf!)  \  Seal  of  Algiers  Jlaviped 

VIZIR  HASSAN  BASHAW.     \     at  the  foot  of  the  ori- 
'  ""■^■-^^  DONALDSON,  jun.     I     ginal treaty  in  Arabic, 


PEACE  AND  AMITY.  515 

To  all  to  whom  thffd  prefents  JJiall  come,  or  be  made  known, 

Whereas  the  underwritten  David  Humphreys,  hath  been  duly 
appointed  CommifiTioner  Plenipotentiary,  by  letters  patent,  un- 
der the  fignature  of  the  Prefident  and  feal  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  dated  the  30th  of  March,  1795,  for  negociating 
and  concluding  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Dey  and  Governor  of 
Algiers  ;  whereas,  by  inftruftions  given  to  him  on  the  part  of 
the  Executive,  dated  the  28th  of  March  and  4th  of  April,  1795, 
he  had  been  further  authorized  to  employ  Joleph  Donaldlon, 
jun.  on  an  agency  in  the  faid  buftnefs;  and  whereas,  by  a  writ- 
ing under  his  hand  and  feal,  dated  the  21ft  of  May,  1795,  he 
did  conftitute  and  appoint  Jofeph  Donaldfon,  junior,  agent  in 
the  bufincfs  aforefaid  ;  and  the  faid  Jofeph  Donaldfon,  junior, 
did  on  the  5th  of  September,  1795,  agree  wiih  Hafian  Bafhaw, 
Pey  of  Algiers,  to  keep  the  articles  of  the  preceding  treaty  fa- 
cred  and  inviolable. 

Now  KNOW  YE,  That  I  David  Humphreys,  Commiflioner 
Plenipotentiary ■  aforefaid,  do  approve  and  conclude  the  faid 
treaty  and  every  article  and  clauie  therein  contained  ;  referving 
the  fame,  ncverthelefs,  for  the  final  ratification  of  the  Prefident 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
cohfent  of  the  Senate  of  the  faid  United  States. 

"In  tedimony  whereof  I  have  figned  the  fame    with  my   hand 
and  feal,  at  the  city  of  Lifbon,  the  28th  of  November,  1795. 

DAVID  HUMPHREYS. 

Now  BE  IT  KNOWN,  That  I  George  Wafnington,  Prefident 
ef  the  United  States  of  America,  having  feen  and  confideredt 
the  treaty^  do,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  cbnfent  of  the  Senate, 
accept,  ratify,  and  confirm  the  fame,  and  every  claufe  and  article 
thereof.  And  to  the  end  that  the  faid  treaty  may  be  obferved 
and  performed  with  good  faith  on  the  part  of  the  United  States, 
I  have  ordered  the  premifes  to  be  made  public  ;  and  I  do  hereby 
enjoin  and  require  all  perfons  bearing  office,  civil  or  military, 
within  the  United  States,  and  all  otlicr  citizens  or  inhabitants 
thereof,  faithfully  to  obferve  and  fulfil  the  laid  treaty,  and  every 
claufe   and  article  thereof. 

In  teftimcny  whereof  I  have  caufed  the  feal  of  the  United 
States  of  America  to  be  affixed  to  theie  prefents,  and  figned  the 
lame  with  my  hand. 


5i6  TREATY  OF  AMITY,  &c. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  the  feventh  day  of  March, 
one  thoufand  feven  hundred  and  ninety-fix,  and  of  the 
independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  the 
twentieth, 

G°.  WASHINGTON. 
By  the  Prefident, 
TIMOTHY  PICKERING, 
Secretary  of  State, 


HE    END 


GEOGRAPHY    OF   AMERICA. 


Index. 


.<, .<..<..<!!►  )|.>..>..>.>.., 


tftite.— The  Roman  Numerals  refer  to  the  Volume,  and  the  Tlgures  to  the  .Page. 


A, 


A. 


.BINGDON,  town  of,  defcribcdj 
iii.   232. 

/H'Otiginal  America,  defcribed,  iv.  221. 

AcadeiififU  Colleges,  and  Univeifilies  : — 
American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sci- 
ences, ii.  173.  Dunmore  Academy^ 
178.  Phillips's  Academy,  ih.  Lei- 
cefter  Academy,  179.  Havard  uni- 
verfity,  180.  Rhode-Ifiand  collegej 
237.  Yale  college,  in  Connefticut, 
272.  King's  or  Columbia  college, 
New- York,  3J1.  Clinton  acadsmy, 
343.  College  at  Princeton,  New-Jer- 
fey,  383.  Queen's  college,  at  Brunf- 
wick,  New-Jerfey,  384.  Univerfjty 
of  Pennfylvania,  443.  College  and 
Academy  of  Philadelphia,  ib.  Dick- 
infau's  college  in  Pennfylvania,  ib. 
Franklin's  college  at  Lancailer,  in 
Pennfylvania,  444.  Walhington  col-  . 
lege  in  Maryland,  iii.  44.  St.  John's 
college  at  Annapolis,  ib.  Cokelbury 
college,  Maryland,  45.  College  of 
William  and  Mary,  in  Virginia,  114. 
Univerfity  of  North-Carolina,  213. 
College  at  Charlefton,  256.  College 
atWinfborough,257.  College  at  Cam- 
bridge,  ib.     Univeriity  of  Georgia, 

Advantages  which  the  United  States  pof- 
fefs  over   Europe   pointed   out,    iii. 
281 
Agamentkus,  a  mountain  in  New-Hamp- 

fhire,  defcribed,  ii.  63 
Alatmniika  river,  defcribed,  iii    264 
Aban\,  city  of,  defcribed,  ii.   320 
Alexandria,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.  97 
A'govquin  woman,  anecdote  of,   i.  1O7 
Allegany  mountains,   defcribed,  i.  200 

— river,  defcribed,  i.  191 

Allum,  found  in  New-Hamplhire,  ii.  90 
Amazonia,  country   of,    defcribed,   iv. 

221 
America^  continent  of,  fuppofed  to  be 
imperfeftly  known  to  the  ancinnis,  i. 
1.  Pretenfions  of  ths  Welch  to  the 
firft  difcovery  of,  examined,  ?/'.  Firfl 
difcovcred  b Y  Chriftopher  Columbus, 
_55.  General  defcription  of,  79. 
Boundaries  and  extent,  divided  into 
North  iuid  South  continent,  ib.  Cli- 
mate, ib.  Why  fo  materially  differ- 
ent from  that  of  the  old  continent 
accounted  for,8o-  Extreme  malignity 
of,  inferred  by  de  Paw  and  Buffon, 
83.  The  contrary  demonflrated  by 
i^iavigero,  ib.  &  feq.     Aborigins  of, 


defcribed  by  Ulioa,  89,  Bfeq.  Ex' 
tremely  fond  of  painting  their  bo- 
dies, oO.  Their  infenfibility  to  bo- 
dily pditi  inllanced,  92.  Thrir  drefs, 
93.  Singular  manner  of  trying  the 
fortitude  of  their  young  chiefs,  ib. 
Manners  and  cuftoms,  94.  Govf-ra- 
ment,  95.  Manner  of  conducing' 
their  public  bufmefs,  06.  Belts  of 
Wampum,  ufe  of,  >.b.  Vv'ar  and  hunt- 
ing their  principal  employment,  97. 
Their  wars,  how  conduced,  ib. 
Their  military  enfigns,  drefs,  &c. 
98.  Their  extraordmary  vigilance 
in  war,  og-  Difcover  aflonilhing 
acutenefs  in  tracing  an  enemy,  ib. 
The  ferocity  with  which  they  con- 
duft  their,  battles,  ib.  Their  llrong 
paflinn  for  liberty,  105.  Their  con- 
troverfies,  how  decided,  ib.  Murder, 
how  punifhed,  jb.  Their  longevity, 
106.  Reflsflions  call  upon  them  by 
de  Paw  and  others,  examined  and  re- 
futed, 107,  i3 feq.  Kow  firft  peo- 
pled, 144.  Produtljons  of,  156. 
Animals  of,  enumerated,  124.  Com- 
pared with  ihofc  of  the  old  conti- 
nent, 125,  S  feq. 
Amtrku,  North,  when  firft  difcovered,  \, 
157.  And  fettled,  ib.  &  jeq.  It,'} 
boundaries,  extent,  bays,  founds, 
firaits,  and  iflands,   172.     Divifrjnsj 

^«i';t(7,  South,  view  of,  iv.  117 
America,  United  States  of,  tlieir  fi- 
tuation,  extent  and  boundarii-s,  \. 
175.  Grand  divifioiis,  ii.  i.  Lake* 
and  rivers,  i.  :78-  Bays,  194.  Face 
of  the  country,  158.  Mountains, 
199.  Soil  and  vegetable  produc- 
tions, 20i.  Population,  202.  Cha- 
xafter  and  manners  of  its  inhabitants, 
204.  Government,  20g.  Conllu.u- 
tion,  21O.  Public  expenditure,  239. 
Finances,  252.  Society  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati,   260.      Agriculture,    265 - 

Commerce,  266.  Exports,  270. — 
Duties,  276.  Manufaflures,  293. — 
Bank,  363.  Military  ftYengtii,  3^.4. 
Naval  ftrength,  365.  Religion,  3bb. 
Revolution,  hittory  of  its  rife,  pro- 
grefs  and  eftablifhment,  393.  Sket;'h 
of  events  which  preceded  the  revo- 
laiirffj,  395,  ^  feq.  S'.amp  aft,  428. 
Difturbaace  at  Bofton  and  Rhode- Hl- 
and,  435.  Congrefs  chofen,  438- — 
Stamp  aft  repealed,  4  ji.  Tea  leiz- 
ed  at  Bofton,  458.  Fisft  meeting o.f 
X 


t    -N    t>    Z    X. 


Congrefs,  463.  PaSliHi  a  declara- 
lion  of  riglits,  w.  Bofton  neck  for- 
tified by  Gen.  Gage,  469.  Aftion 
at  Lexington  and  Concord,  473. — 
Batt'.e  of  Butik'-r's  hill,  483.  Wafh- 
inqton  appointed  commander  in 
cl^iief  of  the  American  army,  493. — 
Exp'-dition  into  Canada,  ik  Ame- 
ricans defeat  Gen.  Carleton,  494. — 
Unfuccefsful  attack  on  Quebec,  496. 
Death  of  Montgomery,  il).  Bolton 
rvacuated  by  the  Britifh,  500. — 
Americans  declare  themfelves  inde- 
tiendent,  504.  Declaration,  if>.  Un- 
fuccefsful attack  hy  the  Britifh,  513. 
Arrival  of  CommiiTioners  from  En- 
gland, 513.  Americans  defeated  at 
Staten  ifland,  5r4.  Battle  of  the 
White  plains,  517.  Philadelphia  ta- 
ken by  the  Britifh,  523.  A£Vion  at 
Germanto^vn,  524.  Capture  of  Bur- 
j^oyne  and  his  army  at  Saratoga,  531. 
Treaty  of  alliance  between  France 
ajid  the  Americans,  532.  PhiladeU 
phia  evacuated  by  the  Britifh,  535. 
French  fleet  arrives  on  the  coall  of 
Vir.i^inia,  536.  Charlefton  taken  by 
the  Britifli,  548.  Reinforcements  o-f 
fiiips  and  troops  arrive  from  France,- 
553.  Arnold  betrays  and  deferts  the 
Americans,  556.  Execution  of  \Ja- 
jor  Andre,  ib.  Americans  defeated 
at  Guildford,  563.  Aftion  between 
the  Britifli  and  French  fleets,  570. 
Surrender  of  Cornw'alh's  and  his  ar- 
my at  York-town.  57J-  Treaty  of 
peace  between  England  and  the 
United  States,  573-.  Termination  of 
the  war,  573.  Tranfaclions  after  the 
peace,  574.  Conllitution  of  the  Unit- 
ed States  ratified  by  a  large  majori- 
■  ty  of  the  States,  587-^  New  Congrcfs 
eleft^d,  'h.  General  W'afhington  cho- 
fefi  Preiident  of  the  United  Statesy 

JfjTtric^iyff  Federal,  character  and  man- 
ners of,  i-  204 
A'ntrtgo  Vtfpucci  publifliestlie  firft  writ- 
ten account  of  the  new  v»'orld,  and 
hence  gave  nante  to  America,  i.  61 
Aii{>vfc-'gii,in  -Wver,  defcrib^d,  ii.  9 
Ammah    of    .America,   con>pared  with 

thofe  of  Europe,  i.   25 
A'inapolis,  city  of,   iii.  3!^ 
Antigua,  ifl'and  of,  defcribcd,   iv.  2^t 
Abbiimat'ox  river,  dcfcribed,  iii.  79 
Augujia,  town  of,  defcribrd,  iii.  271 
A.  ore^,  thofe  iflands  firlf.  difcovcrcd  by 
the  P'ortugiiefe,   i.  5. 
'  B.   '  ■ 
B.h.ima  Ifiands,  dcfcribed,  iv.  291 
Bu/tmore,  in  Maryland, dcfcribed,  iii.  38 
fiaptifti,   account  of,   i.  373 
£,iibadocs,   ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  212 
Barbuda,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  282 
Beivijort,  town  of,  iii.  248 
Belknap,     Mr.    his    defcription   of    the 
White  mountains,  ii.  66 


Bermudas,  or  Sommer's  iflands,  defcrib-* 

ed,  iv.  284 
Bethliktm,  town  of,  ii.  434 
Betterivg-koufe,    or    Quaker's   hofpital, 

account  of,  ii.  419 
Birds  of  America,  enumerated,  iv.   381 
BUck  river,  defcribed,  ii.  300 
Bones,    fuppofed   to   be    thofe   of    the 

mammoth,  found,  iii.  137 
lioquet  river,  defcribed,  it   30O 
Bojion,  city  of,  defcribed,   ii.  140 
Brcndytuinc,  corn  mills  at,  defcribed,  ii* 

466  _        _ 
Brafil,  defcribed,  iv,  203 
Bridge,  natural,  a  Angular  one  defcrib- 

■  ed,  ii.    172 

Brijlt,  M.  his  account  of  the  Bettcr- 

■  mg-hoafe  at  Philadelphia,  ii  419 
Brijlol,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  230 
Britifh  fettlemcnts  in  America,  hiftory 

of  the,  iv.    1 
Pritijk  We!l-lndies,  defcribed,  iv.  233 
Brunfmck,  city  of,'  defcribed,  iii.  372 
————town  of,   defcribed,  ib. 
Burlington,  city  of.  defcribed,  ii-371 

C. 
Cabot,  John,  fent  on  a  voyage  of  difco- 

very  by  Henry  VII.  i.'  157 
Sebaftian,    explores  the   coaft   o-f 

Brafii,  i.  158. 
Cabral,  Alverez,  a  Fortuguefe  comman- 

der,difcovers  the  coail  of  Brafil,  i.  63 
Cahjornia,  defcribed,  iv.    1O7. 
Calvinilis,-  account  of,  i.  383' 
Qambridgt,  ia  MafTachafctts,  defcribed^ 

Camdtn,  defcribed,- Iii.  249. 

Canada,  upper  and  lower  provinces  of, 
defcribed,  vi.  4.  Situation,  extent 
and  boundaries,  ib.    Air  and  climate, 

3.     Hiftory  of  its   fettlement,  ib 

Face  of  the  country,  produce,  &c.  5, 
Principal  towns,  7.  Population,  re- 
ligion aiid  trade,  8.    Government,  lO 

Cape  Breton,  iHand  of,  defcribed,  iv.  12 

Cape  Cod,  defcribed,  ii.    129 

Carey,  Mr.  his  account  of  the  malignant, 
fever  at  Philade!|>hia,  ii.  425 

Cdrlflf,  in  Fennfylvania,  defcribed,  ii. 

CarthagenSf  province  of,  defcribed,  iv. 

Carolina  J  Morth  and  South.  See  North 
and  Houth  CaroUtia, 

Cavern,  remarkable  in  New-IIampfhire. 
defcribed,  ii.   87 

Cayenn-,  defcribed,    iv.  213 

Charlcjloum,  in  Malfachufetts,  defcrib- 
ed^ ii.  245 

— — ^South-Carolina,  defcribed,  iii.  247 

Qktfafecik  bay,  defcription   of,  iii.  35- 

Chickabee,  mountain,  defcribed,  ii;  5 

(kiti.h'xiiary  of,  iv.  16 1 

Chrypiuls,  found  in  New-Hampfhire,  ii. 

90 
Cincinnati,  fociety  of,  i.  260 
Clavigcro,   Abbe,  his  refutation  of  the 


INDEX. 


mifreprefentations  of  dc  Paw  con- 
cerning the  Americans,  i.  113,  &Jeq. 

Climate  of  America,   i.  79 

of  the  United  States.  Sec  the  dif- 
ferent States 

Codjijiicry,  how  carried  on,  ii.  ii6 

Columbia,  territory  of,  iii.  67 
'     town  of,  iii.  249 

CoIuml'Ui,  Chriiloplier,  birth  and  educa- 
tion of,  i.  4 — His  early  voyages,  it. 
marries  and  fettles  at  Lifoon,  5.  His 
geographical  rcfle£fions,  ib.  Con- 
■ceLves  the  idea  of  making  difcove- 
vies  to  the  weflward,  7.  Offers  his 
fervices  to  the  Genoefe  fenate,  who 
rejeft  them,  8.  Caufe  of  his  over- 
lures  being  rfjefted  in  Portugal,  9. 
Applies  to  the  courts  of  Caftile  and 
England,  10.  His  propofal,  how 
treated  by  the  Spanifh  geographers, 
11.     Is  patronifed    by  Juan  Perez, 

13.  His    propo{aIs   again   rcjecled, 

14.  Is  invited  by  Ifabella,  and  en- 
gaged in  tlie  Spanifh  fervice,  15. — 
Preparations  for  his  voyage,  id...— 
The  amount  of  his   equipment,    17. 

.  Sails  from  Spain,  18.  His  vigilant 
attention  to  all  circumftances  during 
his  voyage,  19.  Apprehenfions  of  his 
crew,  SI.  His  addrels  in  quieting 
their  cabals,  22.  Indications  of  their 
approaching  land,  23.  An  iiland  dif- 
covered,  ib.  He  lands,  24.  His  in- 
terview with  the  natives,  ?^.  Names 
the  idand  Ssin  Salvador,  25.  Profe- 
cutes  his  difcoverics  fouthward,  26. 
Difcovers  and  lands  on  the  iihind  of 
Cuba,  ib.  Difcovers  Hifpaniola,  28. 
Suffers  fliip wreck,  but  is  laved  by 
the  Indians,  29.  Builds  a  fort,  32. 
Returns  to  Europe,  33.  His  expe- 
dient to  preiervc  the  memory  of  his 
difcoveries  during  a  ftorra,  34.  Ar- 
rives at  the  Azores,  35.  Arrives  at 
Lifbon,  36.  Kis  reception  in  Spain, 
ib.  His  audience  with  Ferdinand 
and  Ilabella,  37.  ■  His  equipment 
for  a  ffcond  voyage,  39.  Difcovers 
the  Caribbee  iflands,  40.  Finds  his 
colony  an  Hifpaniola  dellroyed,  41. 
Builds  a  city,  which  he  calls  Ifabella, 
42.  Vifits  the  interior  part  of  the 
country,  43.  His  men  difcontcnted 
and  factious,  44.  Difcovnrs  the 
ifland  of  Jamaica,  45.  Meets  his 
brother  Bartholomew  at  Ifabella,  ih. 
The  natives  ill-uled  by  his  men,  and 
begin  to  be  alarmed,  46.  He  defeats 
the  Indians.  48.  Exafcls  tribute  from 
thera,  ib.  Returns  to  Spain  to  juftify 
his  cooduft,  5:.  Is  furnifhed  writh 
a  more  regular  plan  of  colonization, 
52.  His  third  voyage,  54.  Difco- 
vers the  iiland  of  Trinidad,  ib.  Dif- 
covers tVie  continent  of  Ainciica,  56. 
State  of  Hifpaniola  on  his  arrival,  ib. 
Compofcs  tUc  mutiny  cf  P..'jldanand 

3  X 


his  adherents,  58.  Is  diftreffed  by 
the  faftious  behaviour  ot  his  men, 
(34.  Complaints  carried  to  Spaiu 
againit  him,  ib.  Is  fent  home  la 
irons,  66.  Clears  his  conduit,  but 
is  not  reflored  to  his  autliority,  67. 
His  foliciiations  neglefted,  69.  Forms 
new  ichemes  of  difcovcry,  70-  En- 
gages in  a  fourtli  voyage,  71.  His 
treaiment  at  Hifpaniola,  ih.  Searches 
after  a  paffage  to  the  Indian  ocean, 
72.  Is  fliip wrecked  on  the  coaft  of 
Jamaica,  73.  His  artifice  to  fecure 
the  friendlhip  of  the  Indians,  75. 
Is  delivered,  76.  And  arrives  at 
Hifpaniola,  77.  Returns  to  Spcin, 
//).  His  death,  78 
Columbns.  Bartholomew,  is  fent  by  liis 
brother  Chriifopher  to  iiegociatc 
with  Henry  VII.  King  of  England, 
i.  10.  The  mislortuncs  of  his  voy- 
age, 12.  Follows  his  brother  10 
Hifpaniola,  45.  Is  veftfd  with  the 
adminiflration  of  affairs  there  by  his 
brotf  f-r  on  his  return  to  Spain,  51.  ■ 
Founds  the  town  of  St.  Domingo,  _f() 

Cammcree  of  the  United  States,  i.  266 

Concoid.,  town  of,  in  Ncw-Hampfhire, 
ii.  92 

town  of,  in  Maffachufctts,  ii.  145 

CuiigregalioiialiJIs,  zccoMvxoi,  i.  367. 

tcnncciicut.  State  of,  its  fituation,  ex- 
tent and  boundaries,  ii.  2,55.  Air 
and  climate,  ib.  Face  of  the  coun- 
try, fca-coafts,  &c.  256.  Soil  and 
produftions,  258.  Civil  divifions, 
259.  Chief  towns  and  curiofuies, 
ib.  Population,  265.  Religion  nnd 
charaiicr,  267.  Trade  and  manu- 
factures, 270.  Learning  and  litera- 
ture, 271.  Inventions  and  improve- 
ments, 274.  Conftitutions  and  courts 
of  jufticc,  275.  Prartice  of  law, 
278.     Mode  of  levying  taxes,  279 

Comudicut  x\ycT,  Ac{ciihtd,,   ii.    n 

Ccnji'lution  of  the  United  States,   i.  21O 

Conftitutioni  of  the  different  States. 
Sec  the  different  States 

Convention  between  France  and  Ame- 
rica, iv.  426 

Cipl'er  minc-^i  New-BrunTyvick,  account 
of,  ii.  368 

Cuba,  ifland  of,  difcovercd  by  Colum- 
bus, i.  26.     Dcfcribed,  iv.   297 

CuitiJ/ou,  iPijnd  of,  dcfcribed,  iv.  327 
D. 

Djiii/h  Wcji-lnd>es,  defcribed,  iv.  329 

Daiun,  iilhmus  of,  dcfcribed,  iv.  nq. 
Attempted  to  be  fettled  by  the  Scotch 
under  Paterfon,  i^O 

Dw  jnouik  college,  ii.   121 

Dilaivare  State  of,  its  iituation,  extent 
and  boundaries,  ii.  461.  Face  of 
t!ie  country,  foil  and  produdions,  i*. 
Civil  diviaoDS,  463.  Chief  towns,  i.b. 
Population,  465.  Religion,  ;/'. — 
Trade  Bcd  manufaaurcE,  ^SS,'   Pub- 


I    r/    D    E 


l/c   impro«ments,   468.     Conftitu- 
tion,  ib. 
J)e!au:are  river,  <3pfcribed,  ii.  301 
•     '..  i     —  bay,  defcribed,  i.   195 
Defenda,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.   319 
Dick's  river,  defcribed,  iii.  1  28 
D'feafes  prevalent  in  the  United  States, 

iii.  371 
Deningo.     See  St.  Domingo 
Dominica,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  266 
Dover,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  463 
Drowned  lands,  defcribed,  ii.  304 
Dutcii  WclV-Indies,  defcribed,  iv.  329 
-^  Pofreffions  in  South-America,  de- 
fcribed,  iv    21,5 

■ Reformed  cliurch,  i.   372 

Duties   on    goods    imported     into    the 
United  States,  enumerated,  i.  276 
E. 
Ed:ntcn,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.   203 
f.tlton.  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.  40 
E  khorn  river,  defcribed,  iii.  128 
J.mrgratwn,  motives  to,  iii.  295 
£nigriitnrs,    what   clafs   of,    likely  to 
find  it  iheir  intpyeil  to  fix    tHeir   re- 
fidence  in  t!ie  United  Spates,  iii.  327 
J.xpo'U  from  Mafrachufetts.     See  Mal- 

fachufetts 
ExJcr.  tov^'n  of,  defcribed,  ii.  93 

F. 
f.i!h  of  St.  Anthony,  i.   188 

of  Niag;ira,  i.    183 

of  Ohicpyle,  ii-  397 

Jayettevi/le,  town  of,  d-l'-ribed,  iii.  204 
Teve  ,  maiigiiant,  at  Philadelphia,  ac- 
count of,  ii.  425 
T'ax,  oh  the  culiur'^  of,  iii.  439 
ELnda,  Eaft  and  Weft,  defcribed,  iv. 

64 
Eiozurnni^  Uer,,  enumerated,  iii.  391 
Eoyejl  trees,  enumerated,  iii.  380 
fia'-k/in,  Dr.  his  anecdotes  of  the  In- 
dians, i.   134 
Indcri' kfiurgh,     town    of,    defcribed, 

E'edenck  town,  defcribed,  iii-  40 
Jrederica,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.  272 
JFitnck   pofTeflions    in   South-America, 
delcribed,  iv.    212 

Weft-Indies,  defcribed,  iv.  308 

Iiutts,  exotic,  enumerated,  iii.   396 

• nut,  enumerated,  iii.   396 

G. 
Ci'O'-gi  to'.cn,  in  Mi;ryland,    defcribed, 

ii:.  39 
— in  South-Carolina,  de- 
fcribed, iii.  248 
Gwr^ii',  State  of,  us  fitwaticn,  extent 
".nd  bound:rics,  iii.  262.  Climate, 
I'l.'  Face  of  the  country,  263.  Soil, 
]-r!>ductions,  iScc.  267.  Remarkable 
frrii'g,  276.  Civil  divifions,  it.— 
Chief  towns,  27a.  Population,  273. 
K.el:j,!on  aii.d  clisraftcr,  274.  Trade 
L'f.d  ir.BnufiiClures,  276.  Stale  of 
^iterviiure,   277.     Conilitution,    27S. 

iiidiiiUS.  !.*. 


German  Lutheranj,  account  of,  i.  384, 
Grajfes,  cultivated,  lift  of,  iii.  396 

native,  lift  of,  il/. 

Greriijda  and  the    Grenadines,    iftandv 

of,  defcribed,  iv.  254 

X     New.     See  New-Grenada 
Giecvland,  Weft,   defcribed,   iv.  46 

< Eaft,  defcribed,  iv.  60 

Green  river,  defcribed,  iii.  128 
Gtctnvillc,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.  205 
Grottos,  three  remarkable  ones  in  Penn- 

fylvania,  defcri-bed,  ii.  ^02 
Guadaloupe,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  313 

H. 
Ha^ar's  town,  defcribed,  iii.  40 
Hal'fax,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.   204 
Hiirrifburgk,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  437 
Harijord,  city  «f,  defcribed,  ii.  260 
Hell  Gale,  ftraits  fo  called,  i.    194 
Hemp,  the  culture  of;  iii.  440 
Hi'lpjorougk  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.  204 
Hifianiola.  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  319. 

See  St.  Domingo 
Hovf  touick  river,  defcribed,  ii.  256 
Hu  fan's  river,  defcribed,  ii.  298 

city  of,  defcribed,  ii.  322 

I. 
Jmla\,  Mr.  his  account   of  Kentucky, 

iii-    159 
Indiana,  defcribed,  iii.  124 
Indians.     See  the  titles  of  the  refpcflive 

States 
Ind go,  on  the  culture  of,  iii.  428 
J Jwiih    town  of,  defcribed,   ii.  144 
Jfiug  glafs,  found  in   New-Hampfhire, 


Jro^' 


found    in  New-Hampfhire, 


11.  90 


Jamaica,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.    23a. 

Exports  from,   238 
James  river,  defcribed,  iii.  7g 
jf:'fey.     S'e  Nev.'-Jerfey 
Jcu:s,  account  of,  i.  394 

K. 
Ka7ihizua,  great,  river,  defcribed,  iii.  83 

little,  river,  defcribed,  ill. 

Kevnebeck  river,  defcribed,  ii.  8 
Kentucky,  State  of,  its  fituation,  extent 
and  boundaries,  iii.  126.  Climate,!^. 
Face  of  the  country,  foil  "and  pro- 
ductions, 127.  Curiofilies,  137.  Ci- 
vil divificns  and  chief  towhs,  \\\. 
Pcpulation,  149.  Religion  and  ch;:- 
racicr,  150.  Commerce,  151.  Lite- 
rature, 156.  Rights  of  Lnd,  157, 
Conftitntion,  158 

^ river,   defciibed,   iii.  128 

Kv.-'fion,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  324 

L. 
/    ;c  Superior,  dffcrib.'-d,    i.    179 

of  t'ne  Woods,  defcribrid,   ib. 

Hi'.ron,  defcribed,   i.    181 

■ Michigan,  defcribed,  i.  182 

. St.  Clair,  defcribed,  ih. 

Eric,  riefciilicd,  i.    183 

Ontario,  defcribed.  i.    18^ 


INDEX. 


tah  Champtain,   defcribed,  i.   184 

George,  defcribed,  i.  185 

Rainy,  or  Long  lake,  defcribed, 

Lancajio,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  432 
lavdi,  new,  method  of  cultivating  and 

clearing,  iii.  415 
Lanijbuyg,   town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  323 
Letters,  poftage  of,  in  the  United  States, 

Lexington, 'm  JECentucky,  account  ot,  111. 

142 
Lees,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.   142 
Leziiis,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.   4^4 
Lima,  a  province  of  Peru,  defcribed, 

iv.    147 
Litiz,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  436 
Little  Compten,  tov/n  of,  defcribed,  ii. 

230  .. 
Logan,  an   Indian   chief,  his   eloquent 

fpeech  to  Lord  Dunmore,  i.    134 
Long-IJland,  defcribed,  ii.   311 
LouifvilU,  town'of,  in  Kentucky,  de- 
fcribed, iii.  142 
>  in  Georgia,  defcribed, 

iii-  -273 
Lyjira,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.   142 

M. 
•Mjiine,  diftrifl  of,  fituation,  extent  and 
boundaries,  ii.  211.  Air  and  climate, 
a  12.    Face  of  the  country,  ii.     Soil 
and  produftions,   214.     Civil  divi- 
fions  and  chief  towns,   216.      Popu- 
lation, 21 8.    Religion  and  charafter, 
221.     Trade   and    manufaftures,  il>. 
Learning  and  literature,   222.    Con- 
ilituiion,  iL     Indians,  ii. 
Maple  fugar,  how  made,  iii.  494 
MarHehead,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  143 
Martha's,  vii^eyard,  ifland  of,  defcribed, 

MaJJachufetts,  State  of,  its  fituation,  ex* 
tent  and  boundaries,  ii.  124.  Face  of 
the  country,  fea  coafts  and  illands, 
131.  Soil  and  produftions,  139 — 
Civil  divifions  and  chief  towns,  140. 
Population,  147.  Military  ftrength, 
158.  Commerce  and  raanufaftures, 
abo.  Exports,  ii.  Banks,  168 — ■ 
Public  improvements,  169.  Natu- 
ral curiofities,  172.  Public  focie- 
ties,  173.  Conftitution,  182. 
Marigaluiile,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  319 
Martinico,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  308 
Marylar.d,  State  of,  its  fituation,  extent 
and  boundaries,  iii.  34.  Air  and  cli- 
mate, ib.  Face  of  the  country,  ih. 
Soil  and  prodatlions,  37.  Civil  di- 
vifions and  chief  towns,  38.  Po- 
pulation, 40.  Religion  and  charac- 
ter, 41.  Trade  and  manufaftures, 
43.  Seminaries  of  learning,  44 — 
Conftiiutron,  4(1 
Mfa'?c7'/j«/fprings.  at  Saratoga, defcribed, 
ii.   307.     Experiments  on,  308 

'•i'^ fprings  at  New-Lebanon,   Dr. 

^.tiicheU's  experiments  on,  ii.   ;^iig. 


Medicinal  fprings,  in  Virginia,  accouat 

of,  iii.  90 
AUhnomJls,  account  of,  i.   386 
Merrimack  river,  defcribed,  li.  g.   153 
Meihodijis,  account  of,  i.  382 
M:teorvlcgical  inquiries,  fuggefted,  iii. 

Mexican  morality,  fpecimen  of,  1.   123 
McKico,  or  New-Spain,  defcribed,  iv.  77 

Government,  commerce,  &c.   iiO 
Mexico,  Old,  defcribed,  iv.   77 
Middle  Stutes,  their  fituation,  extent  and 

boundaries,    ii.    282.       Rivers    and 

bays,   ib.     Climate,  ib. 
Middkton,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.   261 
Mijijfippi  river,  defcribed,  i.  85 
Mchuuik  river,  defcribed,  ii.  300 
Monongahela  river,  defcribed,  1.    igi — 

i'-  394- 
Meiitferrat,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  280 
Moraviarii,  account  of,  i.  383 
Mountains  of  America.       See  America 

and  the  different  States 
Mount  Vernon,  defcribed,  iii.  97 
Moutit  Wajhir.gten,  defcribed,  li,  67 

N. 
Nanejmatd  river,  defcribed,  iii.   79 
Nantucket,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  ii.    131 
Aa/kvil/e,  town  of,  defcribed,   232 
ttat.hci,  an   Indian    nation,  their    plot 
for  maifacreing  the  French  in  Loui- 
fiana-,  i.    108 
Natural  Hijlui),  inquiries  in,  fuggefl;ed, 

iii.  513 
Nevis,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.   278 
Nazareth,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  436 
Neus  river,  defcribed,  iii.    104 
Nea:ark,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  373 
Ncui-Erita-n,  defcribed,  iv.    16.     Cli- 
mate, -lb.     Face  of  the  country,  foil, 
&c.   17.      Inhabitants,   cuftoms,  &c. 
20.     Animals,   24.     Difcovery   and 
commerce,    25 
Neuikury  pori,iO'wn  of,  defcribed,  ii.  144 
Newcajlle,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.   463 
New -En gland,   or  northern,  or  eaftrrii 
States,  their  divifions,  ii.    1.     Their 
fituation,  extent  and  boundaries,   2. 
Face  of  the  country,  m.ountains,  &c. 
4.   Soil  and  productions,  5.    Rivers, 
8.     Population,  charafter  and  diver- 
fions,   13.     Hillory,   17 
KeiL'joundl.Md,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv. 

Neio-Grenada,  province  of,  defcnbed, 
/v.    134 

Ncw-hampjliire,  State  of,  its  fituation, 
extent  and  bouKdaries,  ii.  57.  Face 
of  the  country,  fea  coaft  and  moun- 
tains, 61.  Soil  and  produftions,  81. 
Caverns,  Hones,  foflils  and  minerals, 
87.  Civil  divifions  and  chief  towns, 
91.  Populdtion,  93.  Religion,  cha- 
rafter  and  genius,  100.  Trade  and 
manufaftures,  105.  Bank,  119.  Edu- 
cation and  hleratifre,  ili.  Conftitu- 
tioii,  123 


3:    N    D    E    X. 


ye^-Haven,  t'swn  of,  defcribed,  ii.  260 
J^'ew-Jerfey,  State  of,  its  fituation,  ex- 
tent and  boundaries,  ii.  362.  Face  of 
the  country,  fea  coaft,  &c.  ii.  Soil 
and  produftions,  366.  Civil  divifions 
and  chief  towns,  370.  Population, 
373.  Iveligion  and  charafter,  379. 
ManufaftuiPs,  trade,  &c.  380-  Li- 
terature, iniprovements,  &c.  383. 
Conftitution,  385.  Courts  of  juf- 
tice,  laws,  &c.  ^gi.  Military  ftrenjih, 

•393       , 

^'cu-Loi>do», town  of,  defer ibed,  ii.  261 
l\ew-Yu>k,   State  of,    its   fituation,    ex- 
tent and  boundaries,   ii.    297.     Face 
of    the   country,    fea   coail,    &:c.   ih. 
Soil  and   produftions,  30J.     Roads 
and  bridges,  306.    Medicinal  fprings, 
307.     Iflands,  311.      Civil  divifions, 
313.    Chief  towns,  314..    Population, 
325.    Curiofities,  331.    Religion  and 
charadter,    333.       Agriculture,    ma- 
Eufatlures  and  trade,  336.    Societies, 
339.    Literature,  341.    Conftitution, 
343.        Finances,      356.       Military 
itrength,    357.       Indians,  358 
/t'cOi  York,   city  of,  defcribed,  li.  314 
Nicigdra,  falls  of,  defcribed,  i.  183 
S'orth-Carilina.,  State  of,  its  fituation,  ex- 
tent and  boundaries,   iii.    192.     Cli- 
inate,  193.      Face  of  the  country,  fea 
coaft,  &c.  194.   Soil  and  produ6t!ons, 
199.     Civil    diviiions,    201.      Chiet 
towns,  202.    Population,  2O5.     Re^ 
ligion  and  charafter,  210:   Tradeand 
manufaftures,  213.  Colleges  znd  aca^ 
demies,  it.     Conftitution,  214. 
Noixukk  town  of;  defcribed,  ii.  261 
KovaSctilia     province   of,   its  fituatioq 
and    boundaries,   iv.    38.     Soil   and 
produttions,  39.      Rivers  and  bays, 
:i.     Civil    diviiions,   40.      Principal 
towns,  forts  and  trade,  42. 
O. 
Clfervaliotis  on  the   government,   trade, 

&c.  of  the  Spanifti  colonies,  iv.  171 
Ogcedm  river,  defcribed,    iii.    264 
r/f'tf  river,  defcribed,  iii.  127 
<' /I'Opwmitip^v,  town  of,defcribed,  iii.  148 
Ohiopvi'c,  fall,  defcribed,   ii.   39 
Onunda^o^  river,  d-fcribed,  ii.  300 

P. 
Paw/ZiTO,  or  Tar  river,  defcribed,  iii.  194 
purflgauy,  or  La  Plata,  province  of.  de- 
fcribed, iv.  167 
Paria,  province  of,  defcribed,   iv.  133 
Fa.f..atc\qua.^  port  of,  exports  from.  ii.  107 
— Liiports  into,    lOB.     Entries  and 
clearances,  1O9.  Prices  currenlat,  no 
Pajfack  river,  defcribed.  ii.  364 
Pala,i'>ma,  country  of, defcribed,  iv.  2?.4 
Pstcrfuii,  Mr.  his  gre.it  but  unforiunate 
attei'ppt  to  cltabiil!:i  a  colony  on   the 
ifthmus  of  Darien.  related,  iv.  120 
Pafu^inl  river,  defrribrd.  iii.   35 
Favkatuch  river,  defcribed.  ii.  2-7 
Fedu  river,  iii.  24: 


Penn,  William,  receives  a  grant  of  lands 
in  America  from  Charles  IL  ii.  289. 
Publifhes  a  form  of  government  for 
Pennfylvania,  29O.    Recai\'es  a  grant 
of  lands  from  the  Duke  of  York,  ib. 
Arrives  on  the  banks  of  the  Dela- 
ware, ib.    Departs  for  Eilglahd,  293. 
Returns  to  America,  294 
Fenrifykania  State  of,  its  fituation  and 
boundaries,    394.     Face  of  the  coun- 
try, ib     Soil,  produftions,  trade  anci 
manufaftures,  403.     Civil  divifions, 
410.   Chief  towns,  411.    Population, 
437.     Religion  and   charafter,    438. 
Literary,  humane   and   other    focie- 
ties,  440.     Colleges,  academies  and 
fchoois,  443.     New  inventions,  444, 
Conftitution,  445 
Pawhfcol  river,  defcribed,  ii.  8 
Fetik  Ambuy,  city  of,  defcribed,  ii.   37S 
Peru,  hiftory  of,  iv.    136 
Fetnjb/ir^h,  town  of, "defcribed,  iii.  99 
PhiJddelpkia.  city  of,  defcribed,  ii.   4ii 
Piunkatdhk  river,  defcribed,  iii.  81 
Pijcataqua  river,  defcribed,  ii.  10 
Fittjburgh:  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  433 
Plants.,  medicinal,  account  of,  iii.  397 

• foreign,  lift  of,  iii.  403 

■ poifonous,  account  of,  iii.  395 

Plaltfliurghi  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  324 
Plymouth,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  92 
Po7tland,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.  217 
Potto  Rico,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  30a 
Poitfmoulk,  tov.n  of,  defcribed,  ii.  92 
portuguffe.   fettlements   in  South-Ame- 
rica, defcribed,  iv.  203 
Potornack  river,  defcribed,  i.  qa.'iii.  81 
P!ejh)ici .uHi.  account  of,  i.'sag 
Ptiiice-ioxun,  defcribed,  ii.  373 
ProduBiuyu  of  the  United  States.     See 

the  dilferent  States 
Prolejiant  epifcopal  church,  account  of> 

i-  37,3 

Profjjeds  a«d  advantages  of  an  Euro- 
pean fettler  in  the  United  States 
pointed  out,   iii.  295 

Providence,  in  Rhodc-Hland,  town  of, 
defcribed,  ii.  229 

Proiiifoin,  prices  of,  in  the  United 
States,  iii.  360 

Puriy^iir^"/^.  town  of,  defcribed,  iii    249 

i  vtnam  General,  his  remarkable  ad- 
venture in  a  cave,  ii.    262 

^.  ... 

Quadiubcdi  of  America,  defcribed,   iv, 

33» 
Qjiakerf,  account  of,   i.  378 
Ouiti,  provi.",ce  of.  defcribed,  iv.  137 

R. 
R'lri'an  river,  dcfv  ribed,  ii.  365 
Ri'dr\vi;r,  defcribed,  iii.  127 
Rfptiies  of  Aiii'-rica,  account  of,  iv.  40a 
Jic/iddice  in  AtncriLa,  where  and   how 

to  be  chofci,,  iii.  3O9 
RtvenuiS  of  the  feparaic  Slates.     See  fe-. 

parale  States 
Pi.:.iide  .'i'.ir.d    t'.nd    Frovidcnce    plui.:;- 


1     N    D    E    J^. 


♦Jons,  State  of,  fititatidri,  extent  and 
boundaries,  ii.   224.     Air  and   cli- 
mate, ib.     Face  of  the  country  and 
iea  coaft,  f.^.     Soil  and  productions, 
£35.  Civil  divifions  and  chief  towns, 
227.     Population,  231.     Trade  and 
Tnaiiufaftures,    233.      Religion    and 
charafter,  235.     Learning  and  litera- 
ture, 237.     Societies  and   improve- 
ments, 239.     Conftitution  and  char- 
ter, 240  .«j., 
Rkt,  on  the  culture  of,  iir?  434 
Richmond,  town  of,  defcribed,  lii.  98 
Mivanna  river,  defcribed,  iii.   80 
Riven  of  New-England,  remarks  on, 

ii.   77 
Roanoke  river,  defcribed,  iii.  79 
Rock,  remarkable  one  in  the  ^tate   of 

New- York,  defcribed,  ii.  33,1 
Roman  Catholics,  account  of,  i.  382 
Rural    (Economy,     inquiries     relative 
thereto,  iii.   cpo 
S. 
Sable  river,  defcribed,  ii.  299 
Saco  river,  defcribed,  ii.  g.   74 
Salem,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.    142 
Salijbuiy,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.  204 
Sfl/<  riVer^  defcribed,  iii.    128 
f-anta  Cruz,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  329 
5(2;;?,i'f  river,  defcribed,  iii.   241 
Saranac  river,  defcribed,  ii.  290 
Savannah  river,  defcribed,   iii.   264 

town  of,  defcribed,  iii.   271 

Schuylkill Tiyitr,  defcribed,  ii.  395 
Seneca  river,  defcribed,  ii.  J02 
Shakers,  account  of,  i.   392 
Shenandoah  river,  defcribed,  iii.  82 
Sheiucktt  river,  deicribed,  ii.  257 
Shrubs,  enumerated,  iii.  3Qt 
Societies.     Maffachufetts  charitable  fo- 
ciety,  Ii,  174.    Boflon  epifcopal  cha- 
ritable   fociety,    ib.       Mallachufetts 
medicinal   fociety,   ib.     Bofton   hu- 
mane fociety,  175.    Society  for  pro- 
pagating the  gofpel,    ib.     MafTachu- 
letts   fociety  for  promoting  agricul- 
ture,  176.      Maffachufctt?   hiftorical 
fociety,  ib.     Marine  fociety  at  New- 
port,   Rhode-Ifland,    239.     Society 
for   promoting  tlie  abolition  of  the 
Have  trade,  239.    Do.  in  New- York, 
339.    Do.  at  Pniladelphia,  441.    So- 
ciety  for   promoting   ufeful  know- 
ledge at  New-York,    3,39.     Society 
for  afufting  emigrants  at  New-York, 
ii.     American  philofophical  fociety, 
440.     Society  for  promoting  politi- 
cal inquiries,  4^1.     College  of  phy- 
sicians at  Philadelphia,  ib.    Phi!ad"l- 
phia  difpenfary,  ib      South-Carolina 
fociety,  iii.    257.      Mount  Sion  li- 
brary, and  St.  Cecilia  focieties,  257. 
Charitable  and  medicinal  focieties  at 
Charlelton,  ib. 
South-Carolina,  Slate  of,  its  Tituation,  ex- 
tent and  boundarie.s,  iii.  5?.38.     Cli- 
mate, ib.     face  of  the  country,  fei 


coafl,  &c.  23(J.  Soil  and  produc- 
tions, 243.  Civil  divifions,  245 — 
Chief  towns,  247.  Population,  249. 
Military  ftrcngtb,  252.  Religion  and 
charafter,  ib.  Trade  and  manufac- 
tures, 255.  State  of  literature,  256. 
Charitable  and  other  focieties.  257. 
Public  revenue  and  expenditure,  ik. 
Conftitution,  250.  Laws  259.  Prac- 
tice of  law,  courts  of  juitice,  260. 
Damage  by  the  laie  war,  nbn  In- 
dians, lb. 

Southern  States,  defcription  of,  iii.  1. 
Hiftory  of,  2 

Spanijh  Well-Indies,  defcribed,  iv,  207 

dominions   in   South-America, 

defcribed,  iv.   n8 

dominions   in  North-AracricSj 

defcribed.     Hiftory  of,  iv.  64 

Staten  illand,  defcribed,  ii.  313 

St.  Bar'lioLmetu,  ifland  of,  defcribcdj 
iv.   319 

5/.  Chrjlopker's,  ifland  of,  defcribed, 
iv.    248 

St.    Doraingo,    ifland  of,    defcribed,  iv. 

"98       .        . 

St.  Eujlatms,  iiland    of,  defcnbed,   iv. 

326 
St.  Jfohn^  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  44 
St.  Lucia,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  317 
St.  Lazurence,  idjnd  oi,  defcribed,  i.  igat 
ii.  Martha,  province  of,  defcribed,  iv. 

132 
St.  Vincent,  ifland  of.  defcribed,  iv.  271 
Swetara  river,  def.:ribed,  ii.  396 
Su:^ar  maple,  on  the  culture  of,  iii.  402. 
Sunbury,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii,   272 
Sufquehanndi  river",  defcribed,  ii.-  301 
Surinam,  or  Dutch  Guiana,  defcribed, 
iv.   215 

T. 
Tahle  of  duties,  &c.  iii.  344 

of  the  value  of  filver  currency  of 

New-Hampfliire,  ii.    111 

— of  coins,   iii.   340 

of  the  value  of  cents,  iir.  242 

of  Weft-India  exports, &c.  iv.  2q5^ 

TarborQ'jgh,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii.  2D5 
Taunton  rlve.r,  defcribed,  ii.    126 
Taxes,  fee' different  States 
Tc'inejfie    government.        See    Territer-y 
fouik  of  the  Ch'o     . 

river  defcribed,  iii.   22S 

Terra  Firma,  or  Caftile  del  Oro,  de- 
fcribed, iv.  118 
Territory  north  zuefl  of  ike  Ohio,  ics  fitua- 
tion,  extent  and  boundaries,  ii.  479. 
.  Face  of  the  country,  foil  and  produc- 
tions, 4*5").  Civil  divifions,  486 — 
Antiquities,  curiofities,  &c.  ib. — - 
Population,  487      Government,  48?^ 

-fouth  of  tiic  Qfiio,  or  the  Tennelfee 

government,  its  fituation,  extent  and 
boundaries,  iii.  225.  Climate,  ib. 
Face  of  the  country,  &c.  526.  Soil 
and  produttions,  229.  Civil  divifions 
and  chief  towns,  232.     Population, 


index:. 


233.     Rdigion  and  cliarafler,   234. 

Comm-rce,  235.     Le.-'.riiing  and  li- 
terature,  236.      Indians,  ih. 
Themes  river,  defcribcd,   ii.   256 
Thombfon,  Mr.   C  his   remarks   on  the 

pafldg-n  oi  the  Potomack,  ii.   400 
Tobacco,  on  the  culture  of,  iii.  427 
Tobai^o,  ifland  of,  defcribed,  iv.   318 
T)eit\,  between  France  and  the  United 

States,  iv.   410 
— between  the  United  States  and 

Holland,  iv.  439 
between  Portugal  and  the  United 

States,  iv.  452 
. between  the  United  States  and 

Pruflia,  iv.  453 
between  Great-Britain  and  the 

United  States,  iv.  463 
between  the  United  States  and 

Morocco,  iv.  482 
~ between  Spain  and  the  United 

States,  iv.    489 


. between  the  United  States  and 

Sweden,    iv.  498 
between  Algiers  and  the  United 

States,  iv.  510 
jTrenton,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.   371 
Trent  river,  defcribed,  iii.    195 
TriniiUd,  iiland  of,  defcribed,  iv.  304 
Tunkert,  account  of.  i.   388 
Tyoga  river,  defcribed,  ii.  302 

U. 
Unitariivs,  account  of,  i.   373 
Univafdlijh,  account  of,  i.  387 

V. 
Vermont.  State  of.  its  fituation,  extent, 

air  and  climate,  ii.  40.      Face  ot  the 

country,  41.     Soil,  productions,  &c. 

42.   Civil  divifions,  43.  C'lief  towns 

and  curiofities,  ib.     Population,  45. 

Religion  and  charafter,  52.     Trade 


and  manufaflures,  23.   Litrratureatii 
improvements,  53.    Conflitution,  54 
Vine,  on  the  cultivation  of  the,  iii.  453 
Virgima,  State  of,  its  fituation  and  ex- 
tent, iii.   73.     Climate,  74.     Face  of 
the  country,  mountains,  rivers,  foil 
and     produtlions,    76.       Medicinal 
fprings,  90.    Caverns  and  curiofities, 
92.   Civil  divifions,  95.  Chief  towns, 
96.     Population,  lOi.     Militia,  104. 
Religion  apd  charafter,  1O5.    Trade 
and    manufaftures,    112.     Colleges, 
academies,  and  literature,  114.    Con- 
flitution,   118.     Laws,   122 
W. 
Warren,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.   230 
Wt'JIiingtov,    George,    appointed    com- 
mander in  chief  of  the  American  ar- 
my, i.  493.     His  various  operations 
throughout  the  war,  i.  494,  et.  feq. 
Elefted  prefident  of  the  United  States 
Wiijlitngton,  city  of,  defcribed,  iii.  67 
— — — —  town  of,  in  Kentucky,  de- 

l.;ribed,  iii.    142 
— — —  town    of,  in   North-Caro- 
lina, defcribed,  iii.   2O5 

• — — —  town  of,  in  Pennfylvania^ 

deicribed,   ii.  437 
Weft-Lidm  iflands,   defcribed,  iv.   227 
Wcih'.rsfic'd,  tov/n  of,  d;fcribed,  ii.  262 
Whi'e  mountains,  defcribed,  ii.   66 
IVilliamJburgh,  town  of,  defcribed,  iii. 

100 
Witmhgton,  town  of,  dsfcribed,  iii.  204 
Worcejler,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.    146 

Y. 
York,  town  of,  defcribed,  ii.   217 
York-town,  defcribed,  iii.    102 
York  river,  defcribed,  iii.   80 
Youghiogany  river,  defcribed,  ii.  397 


SUBSCRIBERS 


N  A  M  E  S. 


,.<..^..^..<^*>..>  »..>.—* 


A. 


A, 


.BRAHAM  I.  Adriance,  N.  York. 
Benjamin  Atkinfon 
William  Andrews 
Gi*orge  Andrews 
William  Allen 
Archibald  Allen 
William  Alexander 
John  Allger 
George  Arnold 
Alexander  Anderfon 
Jeornemus  Alftyne 
Mrs.  Aftor 
Dr.  Charles  Arding 
Nicholas  Anthony 
Henry  Abuclc 
Hyacinth  Agnel 
Jofeph  Aftiton 
Peter  Angevifor 
Richard  L.  Algate 
Nicholas   Arrowfmith,  Efq.  Somerfet 

County,   New-Jerfey 
John  Randolph  Archer,    Richmond 
Thomas  Allan,  Norfolk. 

John  Abbot  do. 

Janies  Abbot  do. 


£^ 


John  Bleccker,  jun< 

— —  Branun 

Alexander  Brown 

John  Blagge 

O.  &  George  W.  Barber 

Abraham  Baudouine 

Thomas  Butler 

Richard  Blydenburgh 

John  Bogart 

Andrew  Brc>difh 

Thomas  Bagley 

Daniel  Berrian 

William  Bryar 

Dr.  Samuel  Borrowe,  2  copies 

Thomas  H.  Brantingham 

Laban  Bronfon 

Cornelius  BrinkerhofF 

John  Bragg 

Silvain  Bijotat 

William  Bleecker 

G.  N.  Bleecker 


N.  York 


Peter  Banner 
Samuel  Bowne 
David  Brit^i^s 
Philender  Brafher 
Reuben  Bunn 
Thomas  Barrow 
William  Brouwer,  jun. 
Charles  Bremneyfon,   fen, 
Charles  Buxton,   M.   D. 
Ded.  Con.  Brauer 
Archibald  Bruce 
Jofeph  Bailey 
Jofhua  BarkT 
Gerard  G.  Berkman 
Dr.  Abraham  Brower 
William  Boyd 
Samuel  Boyd 
James  Bleecker 
Thomas  Bufhfield 
William  Bache 
Gafherie  Brafher 
Samuel  Beebee 
Eleazor  Bell 
Jofeph  Board 
Samuel  Bonfall 
John  Boerum 
John  Black,   2  copies 
William  Buchanan 

. Baillie 

Walter  Bicker 
John  B.  Brooks 
David  Burgf-r,  jun. 
Andrew  D.  Barcl.Ty 
John  Burgler,  jun. 
Peter  Burtfell 
William  Bay 
Abraham  Buffing 
Jacob  Bradford 
John  Batchelor 
John  Britton 
Thomas  Birt 
Benedidt  Bergman 
Robert  Bryfon 
William  Barton 
John  Bean 
Thomas  Blackman 
Alexander  Brown 
Benjamin  Benfon 
Uriah  Burdge 
Nathaniel  Brown 
William  Buckle 
N.  Birdfall 

Y 


N.  York 


SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES. 


I)?.niel  Bache 
JnVn   P.  Barney 
Tliomas  Ernfon 
Charles  Eridgen, 
E'canor  Bryfon 
John  Benfon 
\Villiam  Bogg? 
James  Bntterworth 
S-imucl  Brailford 
Abraham  Brinkcrlioff 
Abel  Buckley 
Jofcph  Bf'ines 
Jncob  Bennet 
\\'illiam  B^ntford 
Andrew  Brown 
Gcorg'^  Bowne,  jiin. 
Matbanicl  Bell,   7  copi( 
Gardiner  Baker 
Nathaniel  Bloodgcod 
John  Bloodgood 
Charles  Brov.-nc 
Cornelius  Bogcrt 
John  Blunt, 
T.  W.  Bacot, 
jolin  Bourgneuf 
Morton  Brailsford 
George  Buift 
Jolin  H.  Bcnnet 
John  Bering 
Henrv  Beiibridgc,- 
Wiilirm  Buriilv 


N.  York      Daniel  Byars 


Jolir 


C. 


Flat  Bufli 
Charlcfton,  S.  C. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
Philadelphia 
Alexandria 


Burgefs  B<<11,         London  Coun'y,  Vir 
Tlieodorich  Bland,  Fairfax  Connty,  do 


do. 


do. 

Albany 

do. 

Richmond 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Norfolk 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 


John  Bi'll, 

Rev.  John  EafFetf, 
Svhrant  Bleeckcr, 

Wm.  Berkely, 

Henry   Banks 

Jrim^s  Brovn 

Thomas  Erend,   56  copies, 

Edwin  Burwell 
"James  Burnet, 

Srooks  and  Warrock 
Tofhua  Buntin 
Robert  BoiiHi 
John  Bnrcher,  28  copies 
Bernard  Brown,  Albemarle  County 
Robert  S.  Burrough,  Providence,  R.  I. 
Oiivcr  Bowen,  jun.  do. 

Cbadiah  Brown  do. 

Mrs.  Avis  Brown,   2  copies      do. 
Bue!  and  Collier,  3  copies,     Litchfield 
Samuel  Buckley,  Ulftcr  County 

Louis  Blr.ife,  New-Brunfwick 

■fobn  Baker  do. 

Nat.  Bacon,  Woodbury,  Connefticut 
Major  BarnsSmock.  Middletown,M.C. 
Simeon  Butler,  Northampton,  N.  E. 
Thomas  Blencch.  Bergen,  N.  Jerfey 
Jnmci  Bruyn,  Kingfton,  Ulfter  County 
Alex.  Blifs,  Spriugfir'ld,  Maflachufetts 
Jchoiakim   Bergh,    Dutchcfs    County, 

Clinton  Town 
ITaac  Beers,  7  copies,         New-Haven 
Jo.hn  Bennie,  Newburgh 


in  Crawford, 
Jacob  Conklin 
Daniel  Cornock 
William  Craig 
Robert  Cocks 
John  A.  Chapman 
Peter  T.  Curtenius 
Jofeph  Covecheche 
John  ChiJds 
Thomas  CUrk 
H,  Carital 
Richard  Cockrell 
Cornelius  Cooper 
John  Colles 
Patrick  Cochran 
Ck^rkfon  and  Crofs 
Nicholas  G.  Garmer 
John  Cumberland 
Henry  Cruger 
Catharine  Cox 
Rich?rd  Chalk 
James  Carr 
Barnct  Cowan,  M.  D- 
James  Cuyler 
James  dealer 
Dewilt  Clinton 
George  Codwife 
George  Codv/if'e,  jun. 
Thomas  Candell 
John  Conrey 
John  Cafen*H'e 
Dr.  Chapman 
John  Connor 
James  Craven 

William  Carver 
Silas  Callerlinc 

Elifna  Coit 

Peter  Conrey 

Mitchell  Cutter 

James  Chatham 

John  Chatham 

Benjamin  Chatham 

Alexander  Crom 

Luther  Cafe 

Ciiarles  Craft 

Amos  Corning 

Alexander  Cutliill 

James  Cock 

Ifaac  Cock 

Ephraim  Cock 

Stephen  Cock 

Richard  Crofby 

John  H.  Currie 

James  Currie 

Michael  Currie 

Peter  Crighton 

Clarkfon  Crolius 

PctT  Cole 

Daniel  Coe 

James  Clark 

Willet  Cole.s 


Newburgh 


N.  York 


SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES, 


Jofeph  Crook  N.  York 

George  Clinton,  Efij.  Greenwich 

John  Clark  Flat  Bufh 

J.  B.  Cbufel  Richmond 

John  Cringan  do. 

Robert  Campbell  do. 

Richard  Chicefter,  Alexandria 

George  Cl'^mentfon  do. 

Stephen  Cook,  M.  D.  do. 

Lanty  Crowe  do. 

Gurden  Chapin  do. 

Andrew  Carper  Norfolk 

Quintin  Clark  do 

James  Crawford  do. 

Cufhers  and  Thomas,  6  cop.  Charlefton 
Robert  Campbell,  1^  cop  Philadcl. 
Ifrael  Canfteld,  New-Jerfey 

Benjamin  Cafe,  Newburgh 

James  Cameron,  Tioga  County 

Daniel  Cruger  do. 

Emanuel  Coryell  do. 

Wm.  Crawford,  jun.  Amherft 

Robert  Carrington,  Cumberland  Co. 
Samuel  Clark,  Providence,  R.  I. 

Rev.  Abraham  L  Clark  do. 

Benjamin  Craggin  do. 

Carter  and  Wilkinfon,  21  copies,  do, 

D, 

Peter  Duftan,  7  copies  N-  York 

Gilchrift  Dickiftfon 

John  De  Peyfler 

Ifaac  Delamater 

Gerardus  Duyckink 

Ephraim  Daniels 

James  Daniels 

Cary  Dunn,  fen. 

Richard  Dunn 

Thomas  Dunn 

William  Dougal 

John  Darbe,  M.  D. 

Peter  Duryee 

Charles  Duryee 

Sam.uel  Dendy 

Robert  Dowle 

Donald  M'Donald 

Chriftopher  Duyckinck,  jun, 

Daniel  Duyckinck 

John  Dyckman 

Daniel  Dodge 

Peter  Deall 

Francis  Dominkk 

John  De  Lancey 

John  Durell 

Dr.  Amafa  Dingley 

David  Dunham 

Joel  Davis 

Jacob  Doty 

Daniel  Dunfcomb 

William  Dc  Foreft 

Putnam  Durfee 

James  Davidfon 

Ifrael  Diifofway 


Dr.  Benjaanin    De  La  Vergae,  Pough. 

keepfie 
Leven  D'>rfey,  28  copies,         Norfolk 

Henry  D^y  do. 

William  Dick  do. 

William  Davis,  9  copies  do. 

William  Dunn  do. 

William   Dow  do. 

Lewis  E.  Durant  do. 

William  Dabney,  jun.  Richinon4 

James  Douglas,  Falls  Potomac 

Benjamin  Dawfon,  Alcxaadria 

Ralph  Dodfworth,  Charleilon,  S.  C. 

John  Diemond  ^  do. 

Thomas  Dollaghar  do, 

James  Doughs  do. 

Godfrey  D  -cburd  do. 

John  D  ■rb'-y  do. 

Mungo  Dykes  do. 

Edward  Dickens,  Providence,  R.  I. 

Martin  Dakin,  Albany 

George  Duryee,  Bufhwick,  L.  I. 

Garrit  Dannes,  Spotfwood,  N.  ,J. 

Capi.  Eiias  Dayton,  Elizabeth-Tow'ii 

Rev.  John  Duulap,  Cambridge 

JPavid  ^  Garland,  AmhcrU  Countj"- 


E. 


N,  York 


Thomas  Eaghs 

John  Elting 

Peter  Elting 

Thomas  EUifon 

William  Edgar 

Robert  Elliot 

Gad  Ely 

Mofes  Ely 

William  t.  Elfworth 

Peter  Erben 

Lewis  Evans 

John   Eaftmond,  of  Efperanzee,  Stat6 

of  New-York 
John  Earhart,     Spotfwood,  N.  J^rffy 
John  Elmendorf,  Raratan,   N.    Jerfey 
Benjamin  Eaton  On-cario  Country 

James  Chriflic  Eftsn,  Bermuda 

Charles  Ellis,  Richm.ond 

John  P.  Epperfon,  Buckingham 


F. 


Walter  Franklin 
Anthony  Franklin 
Thomas  Franklir. 
Michael  Fullam 
Lewis  D-  Flinn. 
Thomas  Foot 
John  Field 
Jacob  Froft 
Gabriel  Furmati 
Richard  Furmaij, 
Thomas  Fardon 
Jofeph  Fay 
J>;remiah  Foley 


N.  York 


SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES. 


Samuel  Falkenhan  N.  York 

E.oyal  Flin; 
Rev.  Dr.  Fofter 

Nailianicl  Fanning 
William  Fellows 
Pelariah  Ficch 
John  Fuller 
Jofrph  Fuller 

Roberi  F.nr  Charlefton 

■Jrred  Fordham  do. 

U'illi^m  B.  Fields  do. 

Jam'^s  Fogsrtie  do. 

Gile.-.   Fitzhugh,  Fairfax  County,   Vir- 
ginia 
Joh-i  Francis  Providence,  R.   I. 

Abijali  Fowler  Sing  Sing 

Vincort  Faure,  Albany- 

James  Fletcher,  Alexandria 

Abiaiiim  Faw,  do. 

Joel  Fr.jnklin,  Amlierft 

yinlay  Fcrgufon,  Norfolk 


G. 


Graves  and  Crane, 

Jioonen  Graves 

James  Gough 

Charles  Goodrich 

Il'aac  Gouverneur 

Alexander  Gibfon 

George  Gallaher 

Thomas  Greenleaf,  7  copies 

John  Goold 

KTnry  Gritfen 

Gaine  and  Ten  Eyck,  7  copies 

Thoniis  I.  Gallon 

John  Greinger 

Archibald  Gracie 

John  G.  Glover 

John  Godwin 

Archibald  Gatfiel(i 

David  Grim 

Philip  Grim 

liobert  Gofman 

John  Gilmore 

Hugh  U.  Griffith ■] 

Timothy  Green 

James  Greig 

Eenjjmui  Gallahar 

Thomas  Glentworth 

Nathaniel  Gardiner 

Williani  Griffiths 

L.  H.   Gnerlain 

Doftor  Gaubert 

James  Gofman 

■     ■    ■     Gauvein 

John  Grenell 

John  Goodeve 

Charles   Goold 

John  Garrifon 

Michael   Grant, 

John  Gcrdon, 

David  Gaurlay, 

Daniel  \J-Graih, 

George  Gibbs, 


N.  York 


Brooklyn 
Charleilown 
do. 
Charlefton,  S.  C. 
do. 


Willliam  Gillilaad,  Efq.  Lanfmgbwr^ 
Robert  Gilmor,  Baltimore 

William  Gray,  Mount  Vernon 

William  Graham,  Alexandria 

Erafmus  Gill,  Peterfburgh 

James  Gardner,  Norfolk 

Tildfey  Grdham  do. 

Philip  Q.  Grymes,  Middlefex 

Edward  Garland,  Hanover  County 
David  Gardiner,  Efq.  Queen's  County 
George  Gardner,  Netv -Burgh 

H. 

John  Harriffon,  28  copic;,  New-York 

Thomas  Hicks 

George  F.  Hopkins 

James  Hewitt 

Abijah  Hart 

Jofeph  Hallett 

A.  S.  HdilDrOuck 

Monfon  Hayt 

Alexandf-r  J.  Hamilton 

Ifrjel  Havilind 

Sylvefter  L'Hommedieu 

Abraham  Herring 

James  Hunt 

John  R.  Harrington 

James  Hays 

Walter  Heyer,  fen, 

John  P.  Haff 

Robert  Hag'ey 

Jonathan  Harned 

Elias  Hicks 

Lewis  Hartman 

W^m.  Humphreys 

Jofiah  Ogden  Hoffman,  Efq, 

Henry  Hays 

William  Hammerfley,  M.  D. 

Robert  Hunter 

Abijah  Hammond 

Richard  Harrifon,  Efq, 

John  Hooper 

John  Henry 

Adrian  B.  Hicks 

George  Hunter 

James  Hubbard 

Jfrael  Hunt 

Joffiua  Hunt 

William  Hyer 

Elias  Haines  - 

William  M.  Hitchcock 

Henry  Brevoort  Henry 

John  Hurtin 

Henry  Hufar 

Chrlftian  Heyle 

William  Humphreys 

Martin  M.  Keyligu 

John  T!iomas  Halitcd 

William  Hud  Ton 

Benjamin  F.  HafKins 

J.  Harmer 

James  Harland 

Mrs.  Haifield     ' 

David  Heckle 


SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES. 


Robert  Hart  N.  York 

Danie!  Hulett 
John  Holland 

iacob  Hycr 
►r.   Peter  Huggeford 
William  Hogsaefli 

— Haydock 

Thomas  Hutf 
Ebenezcr  Haviland 
Timothy  Herbert 
James  Harland 
Patrick  Houftoun 
Capt.  James  Hague 
John  Hutell 
John  W.  Holly 
David  Halftid 

iohn  Harriott,  N.   Jerfey 

uthet  Holly,  Pawling  Town,  Duich- 
efs  Courtly 
William  Hyer,  Efq.         South  Amboy 

^  Hoffman,  Rhynebeck 

Stephen  Hedges,  Troy 

Patrick  Hofan,  Philadelphia 

Charles  Hurft,  Charlfton 

Thomas  Hutchinfon,  do. 

Benjamin  Heigcr,  Efq  do. 

William  Hartfhorne,  Alexandria 

Martin  Hagner,  do 

William  I.  Hall,  do. 

William  Holley,  do. 

William  I.  Hodgfon,  Franklin 

William  Hay,  Richmond 

William  W.  Hening,       Charlottefville 
John  Hicks,  Richinond 

Col.  James  Harper,  Norfolk 

Robert  Hines,  WiUiamfburgh 

Tliomas  Hill  N.  Brunfwick 

John  Haflett,  Charlefton,  S.  C. 

Chriftian  and  Timothy  Hutton,     Troy 


I. 


Kendel  Iflep  N.   York 

John  Innes 
J.  Ireland 
Thomas  Ibbetfon 


Naptali  Judab,  7  copies  N.  York 

Bernard  S.  Judah 

Tredwell  Jackfon 

Robert  Johnfon 

John  A.  Johnfon 

John  I.  Johnfon 

Richard  Johnfon 

David  Johnfon 

John  Johnfon 

James  Jarvis 

Melanaon  B.  Jarvis 

Ifaac  Jones 

Samuel  Jones 

Jofliua  Jones 

Antoiiie  Jay,  M.  D. 

pcorge  Jenkins 


Neil  Jamaifon  N.  York 

Jonathan  O.  Johnfon 
Rev.  John  B.  Johnfon,  Albany 

Cornf^lius  Janfen  Kingfton 

Cornelius  Johnfon,  Spotfwood,  N.  J. 
Jabez  Withen  Johnfon,  Charleilown 
Thomas  Jones,  do. 

Henry  Jackfon,  Savannah  Georgia 

Alexander  Jordan,  Norfolk 

Peter  Jenkins,  do. 

Jeremiah F.  Jenkins,  Providence,  R.  S. 


K.. 


New-Yoirk 


Kip  and  Dubois, 

John  J.  Ketchum 

John  Kane 

Capt.  John  Keaquicly 

Ifaac  Kip,    Jun. 

Ifaac  L.  Kip,  Efq. 

Dani"!  Kember 

Elbert  Kip 

R'-v.  Jolm  C.  Kunze,   D.  D. 

Ebenez-  r  C.  Kilborn 

Leonard  Kip,  jun. 

William  Knox 

Thom<is  King 

S^epard  KoUock,  E-Town,  N.J.i4cop, 

William  Kirk,       Hempftead  Harbour 

Rev.  Nathan  Kerr,  Gofhen 

Andrew  Kidd,  Portfmouth 

John  Koity,  jun.  Eall  Camp 

John  Kunkle,  Tioga  County 

Abel  Keyer,  Ontario  County 

John  K.nox  do. 


L. 

John  Low,  7  copies. 
Cary  Ludlow 
James  La  Grange, 
William  Low 
Ifaac  Lockwood 
Edward  Londrin 
Malcom  Livingfton 
Matthew  Lattimorc 
John  W.  Livingflon 
Henry  Lanthaufer 
Robert  R.  Livingflon,  Efq. 
Dominick  Lynch 
John  R.  Livingfton 
Nicholas  Low 
Edward  Livingfton,  Efq. 
Dr.   Nicholas  Lozier, 
Nathaniel  Lawrence 
John  Lamb,   2  copies 
Jofeph  Laing 
Jotin  Langdon 
Daniel  Lawrence 
John  Lallier 
David  Lydig 
Richard  Lloyd 
Mofes  Lopez 
Stephen   Laper 
CIu':ftopher  Lewis  Lents 


N.  York 
Albany 


SUBSCRIBERS     NAMES. 


Garrit  G.  Lanfing  N.  York. 

Bl>^ife  Lorillard 
Thomas  C.  Lang 
V/ilIiam  Lupton,  jun. 
Richard  Lay,  2  copies 
Wftiiodift  Library 

Ji-remiah  Lot,  El'q.  Flat  Rufli 

King  Wiiliam  Lamfon, Woodbury, Con 
Jo'.ii  Loiigden,  Alexandria 

BTijamin  LanftoH  do. 

ThoT!  13  G.  Langlcy,  Riclimond 

I).   P.  Lyndon,  Providence,  R.  I. 

pr.  Wiiiiam  Leifh,   Porifmouth,  Virg. 
Chriliian  Loop,  Tioga  County 

M. 

Edward  Mitchell,  7  copies      N-  Yorl; 

Robert  M'Cullm 

John  M'Gili 

Joieph  Mallenbrey 

John  Ming 

William  Edward  I.  Mai) 

Willie m  Moore 

Thomas  M'Gary 

Pel'^r  A.  Meher,  7  copie?        \ 

William  Mayole 

John  M'Kelj^on,  jun. 

Myer  Myers 

Wm.   Marlett 

Mofes  L.  Mofes 

Francis  Marfchalk. 

|ohn  B.  Murray 

Benjamin  Moore 

William  Manderuell 

John  Marrenner 

Nicholas  Miller 

John  M'Carr 

John  Murray 
Archibald  M-Cu!lum 

John  N.  Macomb 
Edward  Marreniicr 
William  M-Kenny 
William   Marrenner 
Richard  Morfis 
John  Mains 
Hazacl  Myers 
M^illiam  Milns 
L  >t  Merkel 
Rev.  Samuel  Miller 
James  Miller 
Ji)ha  Marllon 
Wm.  G   Miller 
Ciiarles  Morfe 
Rev.   John  M.  Mafoa 
David  Martin 
I  >hn  M'Leod 
"j  uMi  Minufe 
I'eter  M-Eacban 
Archibald  M'Intyre 
L'*ouard  Mmule 
Walter  M- Bride 
Hugh  .M'Dougall 
Hiigli  Robert  Murray 
William  Iklooney 


Rev.  Dr.  John  M'Knight         N.  York 

William  Mott 

Robert  Mount 

John  Mount 

John  M'Vickar 

John  Main 

Jacob  M'Connel 

Andrew  Mather 

John  M'Guire 

George  Meffcrve 

Samuel  Mitchell 

James  Grant  M'Kindacluc 

John  Midwinter 

Jofeph  Marlhall 

Thomas  Mackie 

Chriftophcr  Mufgrave 

Guy  Maxwell,  Tioga  County 

Ezekiel  Mulford,  Ontario     do. 

William  Miller,  Ulller      do. 

Ichabod  Marlliall,  A.  M  Hudfon 

Alexander  Murray,  Bahamas 

Charles  Marr,  N.  Jerfey 

William  Miller,  New-Burgh 

Jofeph  S.  Mabbett,  Lanfmgburgh 

John  M 'Carter,  Mendham,  N.  Jerfey 
Henry  Mackeijfufs,  Charleftowii 

James  Mylne,  do. 

Philip  Moore,  do. 

James  Miller,  Alexandria 

John  M-Leod,  do. 

James  Muir,  D.   D.  do. 

Thomfon  Mafon,  Fairfax  County,  Vir, 
Daniel  M'Carty,  do  do. 

Daniel  Martin,  Alexandria 

George  M'Munn,  do. 

James  Drew  M-Caw,  Richmond 

Dabney  Minor,  do. 

William  Minor,  Hanover  County 

T.  Boiling  Manlovc,  Richmond 

John  Mayo,  do. 

John  Mortimer,  frederickfburg 

John  Marfden,  Norfolk. 

Robert  Morton,  do. 

George  Mitchell,  Stantown,    Virginia 
John  Mitchell,  Norfolk 

John  M'Niell,  '     do. 

Daniel  Mandell  Portfmouth 

Lewis  Marfhall,  Norfolk 

pdward    Mitchell,     Eftj.     Chariefton, 

South-Carolina 


N. 


N  York 


William  Neilfon,  jun. 

John  Normar.d 

Simon  Nathan 

Jofeph  Norman 

John  Nichols 

Dr.  Samuel  NicoU 

William  Nexfen 

John  .'ibm.  De  Normandc 

Thomas  Nufurn 

Thomas  Nicholfon,  Richmond 

Capt.  Ifaac  Nichols,  Hackinfack 


SUBSCRIBERS    NAMES. 


Alexander  Ogfijury,  jun.         N.  York 
David  B.  Ogden 
James  Oiam 
Henry  Ortley 
Charles  G.  Ofwald 
JofeJ)h  1.  Oaterbridgfe 
P.  B.  Oram  Rictimond 

James  Ogilvie  Frederickfburgh 

William  Ofwald,         Charlefton,  S.  C. 
Andrew  Onderdonk,  Hcmpftead  Har- 
bour, Long-Ifland 


"William  M.  Pluymert,         New- York 
Francis  Panton,jun. 
Benjamin  Pell 
Thomas  Potter 

Jotliam  Poft,  M.  D. 

Antbony  Pell 

John  Patrick 

William  Pierfon 

Richard  Pettenger 

James  Pray 

Henry  Pope 

Jonathan  Piercy 

fohn  Pearfon 

William  B.  Poft 

H.  H.  Poft 

Ifaac  Pierfon 

Stephen  Purdy 

Thomas  Philips 

Jofhua  Powcl 

Jafper  Parfon 

Archibald  Philips 

Samuel  H.  Purdy,   13  copies 

Allan  Pollock 

Robert  Pcarfall 

George  Peck, 
James  Purvis 

A.  Pilfbury,        Charlefton,    30  copies. 

W.  Pritchard  Richmond  7        do. 

Right  reverend  Samuel  Provoft,  D.D. 
bifhop  of  the  cpifcopal  church  in  the 
ftate  of  New-York. 

Zephaniah  Pla:t,  Efq.  Poughkecpfie, 
D.  C. 

Arnold  Potter,  Efq.   Canadarquc,  On- 
tario County. 
Ifaac  Proftor,  Baltimore 

Jofhua  Player,  Charleftown 

Col.  William  Payne,  Alexandria 

Levea  Powell,  jun.  do. 

Benjamin  Packard,  Albany 

Char'.es  Pinckney,  Pvichmond 

Robert  Pettok,  Wanchefter 

Robert  Pollard,  Richmond 

Samuel  Pitfield  Bradduck,  do. 

David  Pattrrfon,  Norfolk 

Robert  S.  Packard,  Providence,  R.  I. 
Jacob  Purdy,  Wliite  Plains 

John  Peas,  New-Brunfwick 

David  Powers,  Tioga  County 


Brinton  Pine,  Tioga  Count'/ 

Amos  Park,  Jo. 

John  Parkhurft,        Onondago  County 

Q 

John  Quigly,  Elizabeth  Town 

R. 

Robert  Rattoone  N.  York 

Richard  Robcrtfon 

J.  A.  B.  Roizer,    Conful  01  the  French 
Republic 

Albert  Ryckman 

John  Ro-bertfon 

John  Read 

Jofeph  Rofe,  jun. 

Charles  G.  Robertfon 

Frederick  Raufch 

John  Sigifmund  Roulct 

John  Raftey 

Rev.  Dr.  John  Rodgers 

Ricbarcd  Rogers 

Henry  Roome 

William   Renwick 

John  I.  Richey 

John  Reins 

B.  Romaine 

John  P.  Ritter 

Gerard  Rutgers 

Henry  RiJtgets 

John  Renimey 

John  Rodman 

John  Robertfon 

Daniel  Reed 

George  Ralfton,   Charlefton,  28  copies 

David  Richon  do. 

John  Rice,         Baltimore,         28  do. 

'i'hcodorick  B.  Ruffin,         Peterftiurgh 

Robert  Rofe,  Alexandria 

Jofeph  Riddle,  do. 

William  Riddle,   Martinfburgh,    Virg. 

Oliver  Ruggles,  Dutchefs  County, 

John  Radcliffe  do. 

John  Rofe,  Amherft 

Andrew  Ronald,  Richmond 

Thomas  Boiling  Robertfon,  do. 

John  Rofe,  jun.  Amherft  County 

i-.dward  I.  Rofs,  Norfolk 

Thomas  Ridley,  do. 

Thomas  Ritfon,  do. 

George   Rcid,    Ciiarlfton,  S.  Carolina 


S. 


Charles  Smith,  6  copies.      New- York 

T.  &  J.  Swords,     7  copies 

Thomas  Smith 

Ifaac  Seaman 

John  Smith 

Francis  S.dius 

Jolidh  Shippey 

George  Stanley 

Andrew  Simonds 


SUBSCRIBERS     NAMES. 


G-srrit  Schenck  N.  York 

James  S^ainan 

George  Sinrlaire 

B?iijainiii  Strong 

Don  Thomas  S:oughton,  Spanifh  Con- 

ful 
John  Shaw 
Charl-s  Simpfon 
Petf-r  Schermcrhorn 
Benjamin  B   Smith 
William  Sing 
Willet  Seaman 
Frederick  Scriba 
John  SidfU 
John  J.  Staples,  jun.' 
George  Scriba 
James  Seton 
Thomas  Slidell 
Manaffah  Salter 
William  Strachan 
Cornelius  Sleight 
John  Stoutenburgh 
Samuel  Smith 
George  E.  Saliment 
L.)u;s  Sands 
H  -nry  Sands 
Peter  A.  Schenck 
Cl.-.rk  ShurtlilT 
W'illiam  Sickles 
Capt.  John  H.  Shackerly 
John  Scoles 
John  Siriker 
William  S.  Smith 
James  Sinker 
James  Snow 
Boufvintin*"  Sice 
Doftor  HiU.er  Spnrta 
Joleph  S.iotweil 
Capt.  Sn^-ll 
Thomas  Stagg 
Thomas  St:'>utenburgh 
Thomas  R  Smith 
William  Smitli 
Daniel  Stanlbury 
Ivldthew  Stowby 
Thomas  Smilh 
Ledyard  Seymour 
Simon  Skilling 
Ifaac  Sharpljfs 
Koranian  Society 
Edward  SuUiv'^bV 
Benjamin  S-ixa^Mr 
H-'tlor  Steven TotT 
William  Scuddtr 
C.  T.  Scheive 
Jonathan  Sturges 
George  Shirne^U 
Hu  ;V.  Stocker' 
Tofeph  Barb'-r  Slipper 
Peter  Scl-uy'i-r 

Noa'i  Scoveli  Say  Brook 

E.  Sirifvdor,  Charlllon,  Suuth-Carolina 
Abel  Smith,  Poughkeepfie 

Bcezaleel  S'ely,  Tioga  County 

Jedcdiah    Sanger,    Efc[.    \VhiLeftowii, 
'       Kcw-York 


Corl   S^th,    Marvin   Oxford,    Grange 

Coii.:'.ty,  Xew-York 
Z^dock  Snuthwork,    Dutchefs  County 
Peter  S.TMth,    New-feter{burgh,  Her- 

kf  m'r  CquT\ty 
Thomas  Stephens, Philadcl.  aOO  copies. 
Jam-$  Scott  Smith,  -    Red  Hook 

H-f.ry  Stanton,  Brooklyn,  L.  I. 

Mi>feo  Sproule,       Englilh  Town  Mon- 

nioth  County 
Philip  Smith,  Eaftdtt 

Jof'ph  Sharp,  Suff-x  county,  N.  J. 
Sol.  Sutherland,  Dutchefs  county 

David  Smith,  Fairfield,  Connefticut 
John  Sterry,  Norwalk 

Vv'm  C.  Shaekford,  Charieftoii,  S.  C. 
Charles  Simms,  Alexandria 

Thomas  Stewart  do. 

Thomas  Simm  do. 

C.  W.  Stephenfon,  City  of  WalViington 
Abel  Sarjent.  Allegheny  county,  Mar. 
Samuel  Slaughter,  Culpepper 

Thomas  Swepfon,  Suffolk 

Francis  Smith,  -      Norfolk 

John  Seambel,  do. 

John  S.iellerman,  do. 

William  Sattelreil,  Northampton 

Rev.  William  Smith,  Newport,  R.  I. 
Thomas  Screven,  Providence,  do. 
Major  Cyprian  Srerry,  do. 

Capt.  Richard  Sprauge,         do. 


Francis  C.  Titus  N.  York 

Ten  Eyck 

Samuel  Tallman 

William  .Tliom  Ton  ' 

Tieboiit  and  O'Brien 
Peter  Thurfton 
Ifaiah  Townfeiid 
]of"ph  Thorp 
Samuel  D.  Taylor 
Hu^chins  Tilton 
Thomas  Thompfon 
Jonathan  Tho.npfoi: 
Nicholas  Teii  Eyxk 
James  Thorr.pfou 
Mofps  Toulon 
Wiili.;m  Tbompfon 
Val'-niine  Tyrrell   . 
Andrew  Tunibull  .. 

Benj-imiii  Tanner 
Ciarl-s  Ti!lii.^,heft 
R  .bert   Taylor 
Jofeph  Thsbaud 

Jonathan  Thorn pfon  — 

Ancirew  Taylor,  Little  Corapton,  R.  I. 
Timothy  Tuide,  Paris,  Hate  of  N.'Y. 
Abraham  Twiggs,  ;-  Flatbuni 

Claude  Carantin  Faugiiy,  Philadelphia 
Jol-iiThompfon:Efq..Middletown.NtJ. 
Capf.  Jacob  Ticr,  do.    .' 

John  T.  Telle*-,  Dutchefs 'county 

Peter  Taulman,  Orange  Town,  Orange 
county. 


SuBSCRTBERS    NAMES. 


Edwrard  Ta(h,  darlefton 

Stacey  Tijrljr,  London caunty,  Vir^. 
Ja  n-s  P.  r-ller,  Si.igS  115 

P-:-r  P.  r-a  Bro?ck,  R,iagil)n 

Hsiiry  r  >  vvr^r,  Tioga  county 

Ifathaa  T-all,  do. 

Joha  N.  Thomas,  Alexandria,  49  cop. 


John  Utt 
Thoma*  Uftick 


N,  York 


Abraham  Van  Bufkirk,  Jun. 
Divid  Van  C  >tts,  jun. 
William  Vdn  Wyck 
Doftor  Van  Beur'^n 
Gulidii  Verplanck 
Petf  r  VaiidTlioef 
HTiry  Van   HsrlingeCi 
Richard  V^irick.  ETq. 
Abraham  Van  Bulkirk 
Herman  Volhur^h 
Samu?l  Van  S;  enbergh 
Jamps  Van  Dyck 
William  Vdii  W.igener 
Mr.  Van  B-rckel 

— V.m  P')lanen 

Cornelius  C.  Van  Alen 

John  Van  Dyck 

John  Van  R-fd,  Philadelphia 

Minimus  Van  Dtjorninck,  L.  L.  D.  fe- 

coad  rivr,  New-Jerley 
Jacob  Van  Nefs,  Rhincbfck 

D^vid  Vinton,         _^  Providcncf,  R    I. 
Peter  Van  Kleeck,  *  PoughkeepQe 


W. 

J.  W'-Aen 

Ch.Tl'^s  V/atkins 
Lewis  Wali?r 
John  W.rd-U 
Hf-nry  Williams 
William  Wych?,  Efc, 
Johfj  Wylie 
Jacob  Wood 
William  W-jds 
Timothy  F.  Wetmora 
James  Wolf" 
Archibald  Whaites 
Abraiam  WiUfon 
John  Williams 
William  Vv'hite 
Thomas  Willet 
Mannus  Willet,  Efq. 
Rcfolve  Vv'dldron 
John  Watts,    Efq. 
Samuel  Walker 
Alexander  Wyman 
Jofeph  Watkins 


New-York 


John  G.  Warren 

Jonathan  Weedert 

Jimes  Woods 

S.3p!ien  Wcndover 

Tunis  WortiTian 

George  Warner 

Wlliam  Ward 

William  Willefs 

Cornelius  Wyakoop 

John  Wolhauptor 

Benjamin  Walker  , 

C.  C.  Weftphal 

Thomas  Wuttemore 
Roger  Worden 
William  Willcocka 
Jofeph' D.  Webb 
Hins  Widerfon 
Peter  Walker 
Abner  Woodruff 
T  'onias  Walton 
James  W^lford 
John  Wood 
William  Walton,  juri, 
Gerard  Walton 
Jacob  W.lfe 

David  Williamfon,  Nurferyman 
Peter  Wintl-rop 

C.  R.  '^  G.  Webfter,  7  copies,  Albany 
Jo^n  Weft,  56     do.       Bofton 

George  Woolfey,  Albany  county 

John  Wann,  Elizabeth-Town 

Cornelius  C.  Wynkoop,   Ulfler  county 
Ndchan  White,  Orange  county 

Simu-l  Wilber,  ETq.  Columbia  county 
J  ^hn  Woods,       7  copies,  Newark 

Charles  Witticb,  Charlcfton,  S.  C. 

Arnold  Wells  do. 

Jam-'s  Wiikie,  Alexandria 

Rich.ird  Weightman  do. 

Philip  Wanton  do. 

Jofepn    Watkins,  Goochland 

Rd'ph  Worm-ley,  Rofegil],Middlefc>c 
Ar.drew  Woodrow,  Hainpfhire 

CharWW.llett,  Norfolk 

Jo'-n  Warner,  do, 

Olney  Winfor,  Efq.   Providence,  R.  I. 
John  Window,  do. 

JEzekiel  Winflow,  do. 


R.  &  L.  Yntes 
George   Youle 
J.  Young 
John  Young; 
Timothy  Youlc 
Georgp  Yoer 
John  Young, 


Doftor  Z-ifs, 
Andrew  Zobriftcie, 


N.  York 


Norfolk 


N.  York 
Scheneftddy 


DIRECTIONS  TO  rnz  BINDER. 


••4'>4"4>4<|>4>>'^>''^"^ 


VOL.  FIRST. 

Pags 
HEAD  of  General  Wafhington,  to  face  the  Title 

Falls  of  St.  Anthony             .             .             ,             ^  183 
VOL.  SECOND. 

Jieid  ct  Penn,  to  Face  the  Title 

Ohioyyle  Falls            ,            .            ,            ,            *  397 

VOL.  THIRD. 

!Head  of  franklin,  to  face  the  Title 

Plan  of  Wafnington              .              .              »              i  €j 

JBones  of  the  Mammoth             t             •             •             •  J38 

Plan  of  Lyftra             .             .             ,             ,             .  14s 

«.■-    ■        Franklinville             .             »             .             »  ^A5 

Tobacco  Plant            •            .            •            •            •  427 

VOL.  FOURTH. 

Head  of  Winterbotham  to  Face  the  Title 

Lama  and  Tapiir              .              .              .              •             •  333 

Buffalo,              ......  334 

American  Elk  and  Bifon              .              •              .              *  335 

Wolverene,  &c.             .             .             •             «             •  34a 

Jaguar,   &.c,              .....  344 

Cabiai,   &c.                •              •              .              .              »  360 

Armadillo,    &c.              •              .              •              •              •  365 

Coaita  Monkey,  &c.              .              •              •              .  371 

Mico  Monkey,  &c.              ....  373 

Baltimore  Oriole              •              «             •                  .  383 

Hooping  Crane             .             .             •             •             .  394 

Avolet             ,             ,             ,             .             .             •  397 

Alligator             ...••.  403 

Rattle-fnake              .              *              .              .              •  404 

Elack-lnake            ,            «            «            *             •  406 


